Hay Report - Saving Hay for Ron

For the fortnight up to the 11th of December 2024.

By Dwain Duxson

The Hay job is a bit all over the shop right now. It can get like that sometimes, and it does because there is never any handle on the job at any one point in time. What I am trying to say is that it's hard to know what supply levels are out there, what's the quality like overall, and who is saving Hay for Ron (later on). There is no ABS or ABARES out there telling us what's happening in the Grain industry, where you get an update each month.

What we do know is that many are still waiting to get Harvest done before they start listing any Hay. Priorities first, there is definitely no rush on the Hay.

I was talking to a Truckie Tader guy who takes loads of Hay into Central and Western Queensland for a few retail stores, and he usually does a load a week. But this market has dried up, and he didn't take a load last week and doesn't expect to take any more anytime soon. The rain up there has given them feed, and when there's feed, no one buys Hay.

Also, in the North, the Feedlots are looking for long-term contracts on Straw as it's now become an essential part of the ration. It might be a difficult thing finding good quality clean Straw this year due to the rain falling during and after Harvest.

For any Hay-related questions, ring one of the sales guys.

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

Prices for everything have pretty much stayed the same in the last fortnight. So it's just a copy and paste from then.

New Season Vetch is $350 to $400 a tonne, depending on where you are. A slight rise in the last fortnight.

The best Cereal/Oaten Hay is ranging from $255 to $305 a tonne, which is slightly up.

Lucerne Hay is around $400 a tonne.

There is not much action on the Straw front, but the very best Shedded Straw is making $150 a tonne.

We go around the grounds to see what our Farm Tender Salespeople have to say:

Paul Grayling - Mallee, Vic based

Paul said - Over the past fortnight, the Hay job has been inconsistent as buyers and sellers are trying to meet at the price that allows everyone to make a dollar. It seems freight is proving tough in this process, with some sales being put in the too-expensive basket due to the freight component. That being said, if the Hay is selling, it means it's on the money, and the quality is desirable. Feed tests and photos are a great way to qualify interest, but end of the day, a taste test, where applicable, is the key to getting what you need.  

Shane Ruyg - Qld based

Shane said - Quieter fortnight with sales with most flat-out Harvesting trying to get it off before the rain hits again. A lot of downgraded Crops and Hay windrows are sitting in paddocks, and Straw is going black and mouldy, which is not great news for the feed job moving forward. I foresee that we won't know the effects this will have until we get further down the track, as most will stack and shed until next year when Harvest is complete and everyone has their break.

Mike Pickard - On the road

Mike said - There have been some good sales of Cereal Hay in central New South Wales heading north into Feedlots. This is very price-dependent as it needs to be freighted a long way and get there at a certain price. A couple of spot loads going south into Southwest Victoria just to top up for Livestock. Otherwise, inquiry is fairly slow at this stage as there is a fair bit of rain around, and we are starting to see a little pasture growth. Sales are probably going to be a little slow until at least March, April next year is my line of thinking.

Jim Oehms - Northern Country, Vic based

Jim said that rain across Vic and NSW has reduced the quality of Hay being Harvested, which will reduce the sale value. After talking to a fair few Farmers in areas affected, the price of Hay, which has not been affected by the rains and wet, will most probably be sold at an increased rate, but that will be a watch-and-see scenario. We have started to see Hay coming onto the market, with Vetch, Lucerne, and Oaten being fairly priced at the moment. There will also be Hay, which has been Baled, that will be held onto and stored for own feed. I would suggest to make sure to get a Feed Test done on any Hay that you are looking to sell and also inspecting Hay before purchase.

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)

Introducing Load Looper, the invention designed by Ian and Andrea Hamilton, who are Farmers at Tatyoon. Ian best describes how Load Looper works here. "Load Looper is a weighted ball device that attaches to a loading strap to carry the strap over the highest legal loads and simplify the loading process.

To watch a video on how it works or to buy Load Looper go to the website here.

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