Your Hay Could Be in the Running for the 2026 National Hay Quality Awards

If you’ve had your hay inspected by Feed Central this season, here’s something worth knowing, you’re already entered.

Every hay lot that receives a Feed Central on-farm inspection is automatically entered into the National Hay Quality Awards. That means if your hay is listed on LocalAg as a Quality Assured lot, it’s not just building buyer confidence, it’s in contention for one of Australian agriculture’s most recognised hay quality accolades.

Not yet inspected? There’s still time to get your hay in the mix for 2026.

What Is the Feed Central Quality Assurance Package?

The Feed Central Quality Assurance Package combines a professional on-farm inspection with an in-lab NIR feed test, giving buyers everything they need to purchase with confidence, and giving sellers a serious edge in a competitive market.

Sellers who have their hay inspected, tested, and quality assured consistently attract more serious enquiries, build trust faster, and achieve better results. When buyers can see exactly what they’re getting, that confidence turns into action.

Your Quality Assured listing on LocalAg includes:

• A Quality Assured badge displayed on your listing
• Your certificate attached for instant buyer access
• Priority placement in search results
• Searchable nutritional values so buyers can filter by protein, ME, NDF, and moisture to find exactly what suits their livestock

What Happens During an On-Farm Inspection?

One of Feed Central’s certified inspectors will visit your property to assess your hay against trusted industry standards. The inspection covers:

• Bale condition, size, weight, and average moisture readings
• Variability and consistency within the lot
• Colour, leaf retention, and aroma
• Contaminants such as weeds or foreign material
• Storage conditions and presentation
• Feed Central’s Visual Grade – a clear, market-recognised summary of physical quality

A detailed independent inspection report is produced at the conclusion of the visit.

In-Lab NIR Feed Testing

As part of the inspection, your certified inspector will take a representative sample and send it to an accredited laboratory for NIR (Near Infrared) testing. Results are displayed directly on your LocalAg listing, measuring:

• Protein
• Metabolisable Energy (ME)
• Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF)
• Moisture content

Buyers on LocalAg can filter search results by these values, meaning your hay gets found by the buyers who need it most.

Your Quality Assurance Certificate

Once inspected and tested, your lot is issued a Quality Assurance Certificate, attached to your LocalAg listing and confirming your product’s specifications and visual grade. For buyers making purchasing decisions from a distance, this document is often the difference between an enquiry and a sale.

Pricing & Free QA Eligibility

The Quality Assurance Package is priced from $550 + GST.

Some lots may qualify for free Quality Assurance if they meet all of the following criteria:

• 100+ MT of Lucerne, or 200+ MT of Cereal Hay
• Shedded storage
• Large square bales

Already Inspected? You’re in the Awards.

If your hay has already been inspected and listed on LocalAg this season, you don’t need to do anything else, you’re automatically entered into the 2026 National Hay Quality Awards.

Not yet inspected? This is your opportunity to lift buyer confidence, stand out on LocalAg, and put your hay in the awards mix at the same time.

Learn more about the Quality Assurance Package