Hay Report: Still Wet and Slow

Seasonal conditions have started exceptionally well, with widespread rainfall across most regions driving rapid crop growth. Many farmers are commenting that they have rarely seen a start to the season this favourable.

The hay market remains subdued, with reduced demand for supplementary livestock feed as abundant green pasture is available across many areas. Sales activity continues to be slow, with buyers generally only purchasing hay when absolutely necessary.

Wet conditions are also creating logistical challenges, with access to some properties proving extremely difficult. Reports of machinery becoming bogged are common, making it challenging to move both equipment and hay.

Hay supplies remain plentiful, and we're seeing many sellers lower asking prices in an effort to stimulate demand. At the same time, producers are looking to clear out existing stocks, anticipating another strong hay season and the opportunity to refill their sheds with new-season production.

Overall, the market remains well supplied, demand is soft, and pricing continues to come under pressure despite the positive outlook for the season.

Back in a fortnight..

Shane Ruyg

What's happened to Hay prices over the last fortnight?

Here are the latest prices.

• Vetch is in the bracket of $250 to $455 a tonne (New Season)
•  Cereal Hay ranges from $150 to $410 a tonne (New Season)
•  Lucerne Hay ranges from $285 to $655 a tonne.
•  Clover & Rye Hay ranges from $230-$450 a tonne.
•  New Season Straw ranges (at the moment) is from $80-$150 a tonne.

We go around the grounds to hear from our Farm Tender Sales team:

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic-based

The last fortnight has been fairly quite with not a lot of enquiry as most have received some rain and have seen the feed in paddocks grow. Pricing has slowly started to reflect the state of play in the hay Job, Freight costs have started to ease but demand has softened, There are plenty of parcels still available with some quality in there. If you have had hay for sale for a while it could be time to look at the price you have on it. With things predicted to get dry moving forward we could see the demand start to lift. Pricing will be a key factor in making sales.

Mike Pickard - On the Road

Interest in hay is pretty much not there at the moment. With plenty of moisture around there is enough feed in places, the occasional spotload or loads of convenience are happening. As people need to pick up machinery so are offering to take hay at a very much reduced rate to farmers in the area that they need to pick up machinery.
There are also issues with being able to pick up a previously purchased hay due to the wet conditions in some areas. Also talking to some the demand for hay has wained due to the fact that they have sold a lot of their stock while the prices were okay and will wait until the warmer months to replace.

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic-based

Over the last fortnight since our last report, the hay job has neither declined or increased as much but there are still spot loads here and there. I have also found that there is still a fair bit of water on the ground in places and this is restricting access for people who are wanting to pick loads of hay up as well. Cereal, Wheaten and Barley hay seem to be the go to at the moment and i am seeing that prices are still steady across all varieties. Once the weather has calmed down and the grounds dry up a little i think the demand will most certainly rise again. Distance is still a main factor in purchases as well and it will be interesting to see what happens with Fuel pricing moving forward in regards to the oil prices increasing daily. (that is a wait and see thing). Remember, if you are looking at selling your hay, to get a feed test done as most enquiries of late are definitely after test results, and if you are buying hay to inspect first.

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 call us on 1300 Farming (1300 327 646)