Hay demand slows as plans made to rebuild stocks

Australian Fodder Industry Association chair Frank McRae said this was the best time to start planning for the spring fodder harvest, after several regions recorded their best autumn break for more than a decade.

He said people should start considering fodder as part of their drought mitigation strategy.

"It really is the time to think forward to spring, what silage and hay could I make? How will I be able to maintain the quality of the stored feed for years to come?" he said.

"If there is a lot of fodder around, we must be smart about storing it.

"Pit silage is a way to preserve feed for many years."

After two years of high demand in NSW and Qld, timely rains in Qld mean local contractors and farmers were busy harvesting forage sorghum and pasture, while NSW farmers who had destocked have been offering their fresh pasture as agistment.

This comes as demand for hay has dropped-off, due to improved seasonal conditions.

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Fresh hay hits market but demand still high

Rainfall was reflected in hay prices at the end of February, with all categories of hay recording price decreases.

The most predominate price declines were throughout NSW and Qld.

The AFIA hay report shows pasture hay delivered to Qld's Darling Downs had fallen in price by almost 50 per cent.

The price of hay in other regions dropped slightly into March but values in most regions for all varieties of hay has remained steady since.

AFIA chief executive officer John McKew said the recent tempering of the hay market would help realign market supply and demand.

"Widespread, near drought-breaking rains has relieved the pressure on both sides of the hay market," he said.

"This rain has provided many hay industry customers with the confidence to restock and strengthen their businesses, this is all good news for the future of the fodder industry."