North Coast NSW

Grain commentary

Hay commentary

A nice spell of dry weather recently with more on the forecast which is providing baling contractors with confidence about curing the last of the summer grasses to be harvested for hay in the next couple of weeks.
Consistent wet weather over the last couple of months has hampered hay production and paddocks have not been able to be harvested due to the wet weather.
There appears to be a consistent level of demand, however has not been escalated by the wet, pasture growth is good with warmer temperature combined with wet weather.
As conditions cool demand is expected to rise.
Early ryegrass crops are beginning to be grazed, however there are still paddocks waiting to be sown as paddocks dry out.
There is still a certain level of demand from the horse market which is generally reasonably consistent.
Dairy farmers are doing their best to maintain the quality of pasture through topping and grazing
Cereal hay is difficult to secure for coastal farms and prices as high as $240 delivered have been paid
Dome pasture hay is available from the Darling Downs but demand is low
Demand for hay is not expected to reach its peak until later in Autumn and Winter
Some growers have baled vetch which is a relatively new crop to this region. Vetch is of similar nutritional value to lucerne and many dairy farmers like the softness of it’s stem.
Dairies appear to have produced good volumes of ryegrass silage.
There is a tendency for the market to purchase higher quality lucerne hay at higher prices rather than by cheaper lines of lower quality.
NSW feedlots are operating at around 60% of their capacity