High-quality hay ‘more scarce than at any time in the past 20 years’ in eastern Australia

Prices have gone up $100 per tonne in some markets as Victoria and South Australia reduce the area cut for hay by up to 50%

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Australia is facing severe fodder shortage with high quality hay “more scarce now than at any time in the past 20 years,” according to a major hay exporter.

Flooding and heavy rain destroyed crops or disrupted harvesting of high quality hay and fodder products in the eastern states, and industry insiders say that shortage is likely to continue through 2023. Combined with labour shortages, it meant some farmers had to choose between harvesting higher value grain crops and cutting hay.

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