THE rain over many parts of southeast Australia last week will have varied outcomes for each region.

Graziers around Hamilton have already lost a germination of clover seed from rain last month.

Rain now is welcomed, but unless farmers receive follow-on falls they may lose a valuable seed base of clover.

In the drier northern areas, there could be a short-term need for hay to supplement leached dry-standing paddock feed.

Some dairy farmers in Gippsland and near the Otways will receive a boost to growth of pasture grasses

Rain highlights the need to cover hay. Some hay producers between Horsham and St Arnaud are in the process of moving hay from their paddocks to storage.

While they have tried to sell this hay from the paddock without incurring the costs of handling and storage, the season is moving on and paddocks need to be prepared for the upcoming sowing of new-crop grain and hay.

Some producers are prepared to move their hay into storage for sale when demand traditionally improves during the colder months.

Others have marketed their hay aggressively so they can gain some revenue and avoid further handling costs.

For hay producers with sufficient cash reserves to hold off selling, hopes are being pinned on new demand.

With generous production in most areas, buyers have had little reason to buy hay early.

They see that their dairy and beef clients all conserved some fodder late last year, but their home-grown supplies won't last forever.

Large areas of southern Queensland experienced exceptional rain in the past week.

Between 200 and 300mm was common in areas such as Charleville, St George, Roma and Meandarra.

The subsequent flooding, particularly in southwest Queensland, has raised the possibility of the need for emergency supplies of hay from southern Australia to feed livestock.

Supplies of cereal hay in Queensland and northern NSW are very low due to a dry winter growing season.

The only consistent supply of hay in Queensland is lucerne, which is available at about $350 a tonne delivered to the Darling Downs. Cereal hay from Victoria can be transported to the Darling Downs for about $250 a tonne.

But the cost of transport depends on how game the hay carrier is to tackle the impractical road regulations in NSW.

Advice from graziers in southern Queensland is that there is sufficient feed on higher country that is not affected by flooding.

The growth of natural pastures and rhodes grass has been ideal and standing feed more than adequate.