Hay growers revel in lucrative conditions

Fodder specialists are enjoying their best combination of yields, quality and prices in the past six years. See how the market is shaping up.

Fodder specialists say they have baled some of their best hay in years.

Mark Cossar farms at Natte Yallock and Elmore said the hay-making conditions were the most lucrative in the past six years. In fact, yields, quality and prices combined to give growers the results they needed.

October 2022 was a washout for many of Victoria’s major hay-growing areas, with large amounts of vetch ruined.

However, the recent fortunes have turned around and are now in the favour of farmers.

Mr Cossar was impressed with the quality of export oaten hay grown this year.

He said the market prices were tracking at $320 a tonne ex-farm, and yields had been good too.

The oaten hay yielded 6.5 to 7 tonnes/ha at his place, and he said it was a welcome reprieve after the tough hay growing conditions and seasonal challenges in recent times.

In addition to growing oaten hay, he also has 800ha of vetch hay.

“We have had 12 inches (304mm) of rain since the end of harvest last year,” he said.

Feed Central National Sales Manager Dave Clothier of Toowoomba said there was also a good supply of domestic hay. This would ultimately allow for livestock producers and feedlots to stock up on supplies.

Oaten hay that is destined for the export market pictured at Natte Yallock. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The overall hay supplies were good despite the fact some fodder was damaged due to the rain.

“The reality is the weather pattern we have experienced since December has compromised hay that was stored outside,” he said.

In addition to the recently baled hay, he said some fodder from 2022 is still on the market.

Mr Clothier said oaten hay was selling from $280 to $360/tonne, depending on quality. Lucerne hay ranged from $350 to $450/tonne. Straw was tracking at $80 to $160/tonne.

Data from Feed Central shows that hay bale weights were 16 per cent higher due to the better season conditions.

Feed Central Grower services manager Stephen Page said it had been the best year for hay production he’d seen in his nine years with the company.

He said quality throughout eastern Australia and South Australia was good.

The previous season was extraordinarily wet, and people were still baling into the new year; this year, most farmers were finished before Christmas.

“This is good because the more weight in the bales you get, the more tonnes in the shed, better freight rates, and it means less work,” Mr Page said.