State fodder cut rises but yield remains low

But, with many crops still at an early growth stage and lacking height, hay yields are likely to remain low, according to Australian Fodder Industry Association chief executive officer John McKew.

"Because of the earliness of some of the crops coming down, I have a feeling yields will be well below par, and we will potentially end up in quite a lean supply situation," he said.

"Cutting crops this early shows that people are trying to make the best of a bad situation (caused by) frost and dry conditions, but it also means there is less volume there, which will mean less yield."

Mr McKew said the often-seen inverse relationship between hay yield and quality may not be seen this year.

"There will be some concern about (cutting while plants are booting), and whether or not crops will get to a stage where they will deliver some nutritional value," he said.

Mr McKew said it had been a difficult, patchy and unpredictable season, which included hot and windy weather across the state on Thursday last week, but he said crops were likely to struggle if the temperature was to rise significantly.

"We're starting to see a bit of warmth, which might get a bit of grass growing, but unless there is moisture, there is going to be problems," he said.

As well as a potential fodder shortage, Mr McKew said there would likely be low straw yields.

"If we're getting fewer crops through to the level of maturity where they can be stripped for grain, straw could be a relatively short supply commodity as well."

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But Mr McKew said high demand, as well as strong hay prices - remaining steady at between $400 a tonne and $450/t for cereal hay and $570-$650/t for lucerne since the beginning of August - meant the decision to cut for hay was still an appealing and viable option for growers.

According to the Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia, baler sales across the country were up 22 per cent on last year on a year-to-date basis, which Mr McKew said reflected the increased number of croppers choosing to cut for hay.

"A number of people are starting to think fodder is no longer an opportunistic crop for a graingrower, it is now factoring into their thinking as a longer term production product," he said.

Frost damage across the state has pushed an increasing number of graingrowers to cut their crops for hay, according to Grain Producers SA chairman Wade Dabinett.

Mr Dabinett said frost impact was variable across regions, but most croppers had suffered some degree of frost damage.

"There are some areas in the southern Mallee where the frost impact is particularly bad, but you only have to go a few kilometres down the road and the impact might only be 10 per cent," he said.

"Sometimes the frosted areas are sandy patches, where you get minimal hay yield, so some people have decided to put stock in on crops (rather than cutting for hay)."

YP AG agronomist Chris Davey said frost damage on the northern Yorke Peninsula had "without a doubt" been more severe than usual, with most areas reporting at least five severe frosts since August 13 - significantly more than the area's average of two or three frosts a year.

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He said the dry season and lack of soil of moisture had contributed to the frost impact.

"We haven't had the moisture in the soil that can act as a buffer at night when frost sets in," he said.

Frequent frosts in the Mid North have hurt the region's crops during flowering, and have also caused problems with grain fill, according to Rural Directions agronomist Tony Craddock, Freeling.

He said the first hay was cut in the region about two weeks ago, with large areas cut due to significant frost damage.