South West Victoria

Grain commentary

Hay commentary

Stocks of 2010 pasture hay are moving rapidly into the south west. Tops and bottoms from large square stacks stored outside are generally removed from consignments as they are not marketable.
While the volumes moving into the south west are large, sellers are not demanding large price increases as they are happy to make sales to clean out old stocks of hay and start afresh this spring.
The quality of hay moving is highly varied, everything from high quality vetch to low end pasture hay.
Rain has arrived and paddocks in the Heytsbury have a green tinge to them. However more rain is needed to promoted growth, however soil temperatures are cooling quickly that will inhibit pasture growth potential.
As a consequence we can expect demand for hay from the southwest for sometime yet.
With rain, the cricket numbers have eased and pastures are now free of this burden.
Trading activity into the region is strong and expected to continue. Prices have increased consistently over the last month.
It is the dry spring and summer that has been responsible for the lack of autumn feed. For the six months from September to February this region only experienced a decile one rainfall.
Given the lack of feed about, many are anxious about the timing of the autumn break. The autumn break will strongly dictate hay demand in the south west.
The small volumes of pasture hay made on grazier’s properties is running out and farmers are now supplementing their feed with purchased hay
Straw supplies throughout the western district appear to be quite healthy. Those who have harvested grain have been keen to reduce stubble loads on paddocks and anticipate a reasonable level of demand for straw in the coming winter, given the reduced volumes of hay produced last spring.
Those keen on vetch are finding it difficult to source and prices are reflecting this supply shortage. Good quality vetch hay is commanding $270/mt delivered into south west dairies.
Lucerne has played a pivotal role this year as a protein source
Pasture hay volumes are significantly lower than previous years due to a dry spring and a lack of bulk in the pastures to justify cutting
The supply of Wimmera cereal and legume hay is limited this year due to the reduced acreages sown and a strong export market for oaten hay