Tests could prove cereal and canola hay is safe

Tests could prove that frosted cereal and canola crops made into hay are safe for livestock producers to feed to stock. Read what can give producers confidence to buy.

UPDATE

The only way to know if hay – made from crops which were originally destined for grain – has chemical residue is to test it.

Growers who have made hay from cereal and canola crops still within chemical withholding periods can get their fodder tested to prove it is safe to buyers.

Alternatively, those who have already bought cereal hay but have concerns could also do the testing themselves to prove the fodder is clean.

It is uncertain how withholding periods affect cut hay.

And FeedTest national laboratory operations manager Rob Rantino said the testing fees, which could range from $80-$300, could provide peace of mind to hay buyers.

Frost, and more recently, hail damage has forced some growers to change tack with their cereal and canola crops, from growing out for grain to hay.

But along with this has come the risk that some hay has been made while the crop is still in a forage/grazing withholding period after being treated with herbicides, fungicides or insecticides.

Mr Rantino said hay tests could offer surety that fodder was free of any residues.

“We don’t do a lot of testing for contaminants for chemicals in hay, to be honest, but we have the capacity to do it,” Mr Rantino said.

“If growers have sprayed a certain chemical, and they are worried about whether hay has residues of it, then they can have a specific chemical tested for.”

Prices range from $80 upwards, depending on the chemical.

The current turnaround time for results from hay testing is about five to seven days, and Mr Rantino said he hoped to be able to maintain this as a surge of fodder was expected this spring.

“We are ahead of where we were last year in terms of the amount of hay we have tested and have the feeling that it will be coming in earlier this year (hay to be tested),” he said.

EARLIER

Livestock producers looking to buy cereal hay made from frosted crops are being warned to check withholding periods for chemicals used on the crop.

And the quick pivot from a crop destined for grain to then become hay could mean some fungicides and insecticides used may still be within withholding periods, Australian Fodder Industry Association chairman Louis Kelly said.

Grain crops that have been frost damaged are being made into hay. Picture: Zoe Phillips

“Croppers need to be mindful that what they grew as a grain crop is now a hay crop so it’s changed the end point,” Mr Kelly said.

“They could have sprayed a fungicide or an insecticide when they thought they were going to be harvesting the crop for grain and that can change overnight with a frost.”

Mr Kelly, who runs a fodder operation at Jerilderie in southern NSW, said those buying cereal hay need to ask questions about chemicals used and withholding periods.

“Those buyers are wanting to get the most amount of fodder for the lowest price but it could be a serious problem if those buyers are then using that hay that’s still within withholding periods for chemicals,” he said.

In its latest hay report, AFIA said grain farmers in central and southern NSW and northern Victoria, were cutting cereal crops and canola for hay.

“The first of the early season’s cereal hay has entered the market with a range of pricing,” the report said.

“Some hay producers without on-farm storage capacity, are offering a lower price with the aim of moving hay off-farm to avoid any weather damage.”

Grain growers making their frost-affected crops into hay are being advised to offer commodity vendor declarations to buyers. Picture: Zoe Phillips

FeedCentral national sales manager David Clothier said livestock producers should ask for a commodity vendor declaration, or CVD, when buying hay.

“I don’t think there is anything malicious in terms of growers selling cereal hay that could be within withholding periods, but it’s important that withholding periods are noted on the CVD and followed by the producers who buy it,” Mr Clothier said.

“My understanding is that as long as the hay is fed out after the withholding period is over, then it should be OK but it would only be if the hay was bought and fed out straight away that there could be an issue.”

Agriculture Victoria dairy extension officer Michele Jolliffe said growers should check chemical labels to make sure any applicable withholding periods had expired.

“Growers should ensure the crop hasn’t been sprayed with a chemical carrying a label warning or prohibitive statement that treated crops are not to be grazed or fed to livestock,” Ms Jolliffe said.

She said growers should record information and “be prepared for requests or declarations about chemical history to prospective buyers”.