SPRING and summer rain is not a friend of the hay producer. Farmers have noticed a reduction in the quality of hay made which now faces a market with easing demand.
Substantial volumes of hay available for sale have been rain-affected. Oaten hay crops, sown for dedicated export markets, have failed to meet the stringent export standards, particularly for colour. These stocks of oaten hay now compete with the other stocks of cereal hay on the domestic market.
Some hay sellers, eager to market a portion of their hay, have been selling lower-quality rain-affected cereal hay for about $90 a tonne on-farm in the southern Wimmera. Higher-quality hay without weather damage is not actively being pushed by sellers at the moment. This hay will remain in storage for sale later in the year.
The availability of this lower-quality hay has pulled the general market for cereal hay back $10 a tonne this week.
Buyers may find some gems among this off-grade hay. While the colour of some lots may be impacted by rain, a feed analysis may indicate little to no impact on the key nutritional parameters.
Beyond the nutritional tests, buyers may be cautious of rain-affected hay as stock may not readily eat the hay. Some astute hay sellers have been providing livestock feeders with some test bales to assess its palatability during trial feeding.
Rain over last weekend is providing continued pasture growth in southern Victoria. Falls of between 15 and 20 mm in the Otways and West Gippsland are maintaining ryegrass and clover pastures for grazing of beef and dairy cattle.
Farmers between Geelong and Casterton have shown a strong preference for conserving their fodder in round bales this season. This large proportion of round bales suggests the hay is intended for use on farm rather than being sold and transported elsewhere.
Earlier rain over the new year period has also provided continued grazing. Regrowth from cereal-hay paddocks in the central highlands and Western District are an unexpected bonus of summer rain timed with hay making. This could provide more round-baled hay for sale this year, depending on the timing of the autumn rain and the severity of the winter chill.
According to hay merchants, hay is slow to move at the moment. Traditionally, January is a slow time of the year for the hay market.
