Urgent shipment of lupins from Western Australia to help fill feed void

An urgent lupin shipment from Western Australia is en route to Victoria as farmers continue to battle feed shortages. See the latest.

Stock feed demand in Victoria has almost reached crisis point, with a shipment of lupins from Western Australia en route to Geelong.

The ship from Kwinana, Western Australia, carrying 20,000 tonnes of lupins, is expected to dock in Victoria next week, and a significant portion of the consignment has already been sold.

CL Commodities director Bob Lean of Orange in NSW said the shipment was a one-off and had been organised to fill demand in the market.

Farmers say stock feed has been increasing in price. Picture: DANNIKA BONSER

“There is strong demand, and Victoria has experienced pretty severe drought conditions; this is not a traditional flow shipment,” he said.

“We would not usually see lupins coming to Victoria from Western Australia in these amounts.”

However, in the past, lupins had been brought into the state from the west via rail.

“The drought in the past 12 months has increased overall demand for stock feed,” he said.

Mr Lean confirmed that all of the supply would be used in the domestic market.

He did not confirm the price of the lupins on this particular shipment.

However, lupins are currently trading at $680 a tonne in Melbourne, field peas at $745 a tonne and faba beans at $670.

Australian Fodder Industry Association chairman Louis Kelly said there were major hurdles in securing hay in Victoria, and high-quality, high-protein feed grain was likely a viable option.

“I have had inquiries for trucks carting hay and coming from as far away as Darwin,” he said.

A shipment of lupins will help to fill the feed gaps in Victoria. Picture: Dannika Bonser

“Hay is in really short supply, but to make the logistics work, you have to find backloads and factor in the freight component.

“We are looking at nearly $600 a tonne for hay delivered into Victoria.”

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock president Scott Young said there was huge demand for all stock feed at the moment.

He said the requirements for high-protein, high-energy feed grain were highlighted as farmers in drought conditions come into lambing season.

“Those high-energy feed grains can be more valuable to keep condition on our ewes before lambing,” he said.

Mr Young said the June rain was welcome, but there was still a shortage of feed, and conditions were cold.

“Farmers are working under very challenging conditions and struggling to keep nutrition up for livestock,” he said.

Mr Young said hay prices and availability continued to be a challenge, with prices upwards of $500 to $600 a tonne.