There is still quite a bit of supply out there, particularly good quality cereal lines. Protein hays are reasonably limited, though they are there if you need them. Straw is the tight one at the moment, with supply really limited in the south.
The main thing to remember is that this week kicks off the new financial year. That usually means shed doors start opening and more listings come onto the market, so keep an eye out, do your research and make sure you get what you need.
Demand has eased over the last few weeks as rain has come through, and there is another significant rain event forecast for New South Wales and Victoria in the coming days.
Down south the crops are pretty well forward, but this rain is going to have a real effect on new season crops further north, simply because a lot has not been sown yet. That window is closing, and this rain will be a big determining factor in the impact we see. That said, there is quite a bit of supply around right now, so there is certainly no need to panic.
The other one to keep in mind is the yo-yo effect on fuel prices. They have been up and down, and while it has been nice watching them come down over the last couple of weeks, we know 13 cents is set to go back on as part of the excise. Freight is still a big contributor to your delivered price, and there are plenty of different rates being quoted out there by different carriers. Reach out to us and we are happy to be transparent about what we are doing and help keep everyone honest.
Whether or not you put stock in the weather bureau’s forecast for a softer finish into spring, now is a good time to think about your needs through that period and consider securing product while you can. There is still some good quality around.
Our advice is to sit down and do some homework. Speak to a trusted advisor in your business, whether that is a nutritionist or someone similar, or reach out to one of our friendly team here at LocalAg Plus for a hand securing the right product.
A big part of feeding livestock, as you all know, is that continuity and consistency in what your animals are eating has a significant effect on the outcome. There are still some big lines of hay out there that suit the majority of people’s needs, so it pays to lock that in early.
The market has eased, but we all know that demand traditionally lifts as it gets colder. If you are looking to release product, it is well worth understanding where the market is sitting first. Do that research yourself, or reach out to us or another trusted advisor in your business.
Whatever you do, make sure your listing is accurate, described well, has some very good pictures and is competitive in the marketplace. If you are opening your shed door, you want to sell, so let’s get the details right and get on with it.
One last thing worth doing is reaching out to us on the QA side. If a lot needs inspecting, please arrange it, because the quality assured lots are selling well ahead of the ones without that information.
If you get stuck, give us a call and we are happy to help, or log on to the LocalAg platform and do the research yourself. No worries at all. We will catch up with you next time.
Watch the full market report here: