Quality key to best price outcome
Shed-stored hay in demand while lower grades lose attractiveness as wet conditions dampen need for supplementary fodder.
THE significance of hay quality is growing as the diversity of pricing expands.
Despite this, the weighted average price for hay remains steady.
Some sellers with lower quality hay are increasingly concerned that hay prices have come off about $65 a tonne since the summer peak and wet conditions so early in the season are not conducive to firming demand.
Without dedicated permanent shed storage these sellers are offering their hay at lower prices to attract business. These lots of hay are typically stored under caps or are still stacked in paddocks and sellers are eager to move them on, given the early start to their cropping programs.
Hay caps have a great role to play in the hay industry as they enable hay growers to economically avoid most of the deterioration from moisture inundation, but buyers have a preference for shed-stored hay.
Large square bales of cereal hay in the southern and west Wimmera are offered at $200 to $240 a tonne ex-farm plus GST and freight.
These bales were cut from high-yielding crops of lower quality hay, with test results under 7.0 per cent protein and 8.0 ME units of energy.
Better quality Wimmera hay stored in sheds is offered at $50 a tonne higher, reflecting the improved animal performance achievable from the hay.
Illustrating the diversity of hay quality available, other hay sellers in northern Victoria are still selling hay for $300 a tonne ex-farm.
Hay sellers near Mitiamo with barley hay testing 11 ME units and protein over 14 per cent are fielding increasing inquires from local dairy farmers eager to feed their milkers.
It is this awareness of quality that some export oaten hay growers are using in their cropping program.
Even though they have enough soil moisture to get their oat crops off to an early start, they prefer to delay sowing for a little longer to avoid crops becoming too bulky and fibrous.
High-yielding, rank crops will suffer heavy discounting in the payment scales of hay exporters. In the time available, full benefit can also be taken to achieve a rare double: knock weed control and large areas can be sown quickly.
Vetch hay prices are holding up well as a quality feed input, but demand is expected to fall over winter as the volume of pastures decline and the protein levels increase.
MORE HAY TALK
Wet season taking its toll on hay quality
The hay season is proving challenging for farmers as forecasts for more rain would ruin the condition of crops for harvesting.
Rain threatens quality of vetch
Fears grow that showery spring weather could adversely impact cereal and pasture hay.