Hay Report - To cut Hay or strip Grain?
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Hay & Fodder News
- Sep 03, 2025
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For the fortnight up to the 3rd of September 2025.
By Dwain Duxson
We think that Cropping Farmers have big decisions to make in the next month or so. Let's ask it as a question. Do you have a big "cut Hay" or "strip Grain" decision to make?
Probably since 2020, this decision has been a bit of a no-brainer. Most Cropping Farmers are just that, Cropping Farmers, so they are geared up to do Grain first and foremost. The Hay side comes into it when it's more forced on them, with something like a frost of a cut-off spring.
The scenario we face this year is that Grain prices have come off, and Hay is in the shortest supply for some time.
So with the question above, we have laid out some of the pros and cons for both.
Cutting for Hay.
The case for:
- Record low industry-wide supply levels.
- Prices should be pretty good.
- Could possibly work out as the best $$ per ha if you have bulk.
- Shorter time frame.
- Potential weed break.
- Early holidays.
The case against:
- It's not a ready-made cash-selling commodity (harder to sell than Grain).
- You will need to have bulk.
- You may have to carry it for a period.
- Contractors might be heavily booked.
- You might need to buy Hay Gear.
- Inadequate Storage infrastructure.
Stripping for Grain.
The case for:
- It's what you're geared up to do.
- Utilising your expensive Machinery for what it's intended for.
- Can sell at any time, so access to cash is much easier.
- Keep normal rotations intact.
The case against:
- Potentially lower prices and margins.
- Longer time frame.
- Later holidays.
We have just covered the ones that come to mind. I'm sure you will have other considerations that will come into play.
We are seeing some Silage being dropped in some of the irrigation areas of SA, Vic and the Riverina areas of NSW.
Back in a fortnight.
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What's happened to Hay prices over the last fortnight?
Here are the latest prices.
Vetch is in the bracket of $450 and $650 a tonne.
Cereal Hay ranges from $355 to $585 a tonne.
Lucerne Hay ranges from $450 to $625 a tonne.
Clover & Rye Hay is selling around $550 a tonne.
Straw is making anywhere from $110-$300 a tonne.
We go around the grounds to see what our Farm Tender Salespeople have to say:
Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic-based
Paul said - This last fortnight has seen the job slow right up, with most enjoying a green pick and taking a rest from the stress of sourcing Hay and Straw. There is a bit of talk about new season Hay and how much will be out there and how much it will be worth without any firm answers to those questions. It's all guesswork work albeit an educated guess. Going back to Sowing, we did have a fairly healthy number of Vetch Seed Sales and not all to the traditional Vetch growing areas, so it will be interesting to see what's around and where it's located.
Shane Ruyg - Qld-based
Shane said - Another slower week on the Hay and Straw job, with demand easing as there's a bit of green pick in paddocks and some pastures starting to mature. A lot of discussion continues around whether to take Crops through to Grain or cut them for Hay, especially with predictions that Grain prices may come in lower than expected. With new season Hay not far from being knocked down, there's plenty of talk about where pricing will start and what demand might look like.
Mike Pickard - On the road
Mike said - Spot loads of Hay, mainly small squares being sold to the horse industry/hobby Farmers. Talking to one live Cattle exporter in the north of Western Australia, they only get their Hay supplies from the south, not locally. In our travels through Western Australia, Hay sheds are full of Hay. And all the Crops are in flower and looking fantastic will be a bumper year over here. Talking to a few producers in central New South Wales, some are talking of cutting Crops as early as next week. Some of the contractors are talking mid-300s for Cereal Hay, It will be interesting to see where that goes re pricing.
Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic-based
Jim said - The Hay job has slowed down quite a bit over the past month, and only spot loads are being taken here and there. A lot are asking what prices will be for this season's Hay also, and i can only say to them to watch the FT site on a daily basis as that is going to be the reflective. A few I have also been talking to are looking at starting on their Silage and Hay over the next few weeks. Some are going to be looking very good, and others may not be as lucrative, but as long as there is something there. As I mentioned in every report, if you are a buyer of Hay/Silage, always look to inspect first, and if you are going to be selling, get a feed test done.
End of message.
For more information on selling or buying Hay contact the following:
Paul Grayling – 0447 069 082 or paulg@farmtender.com.au
Shane Ruyg – 0447 922 604 or shaner@farmtender.com.au
Mike Pickard – 0429 677 636 or mikep@farmtender.com.au
Jim Oehms -- 0481 102 288 or jimo@farmtender.com.au
Or 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)
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