What are my options for making top quality hay?

It is an excellent product and can be expected to be in strong demand. Oats is a highly resilient and competitive cereal in different environments.

In comparison to other cereals, there are fewer weed control options, and it is more prone to lodging than other cereals and less tolerant of alkaline soils.

Another advantage of oaten hay is that it has better resistance to leaf rust than wheat or barley and can also be used for grazing during winter months prior to fencing off in preparation for cutting hay.

It can be sown as a monoculture or blended with other species such as rye-grass and clovers to increase yield and quality.

Oaten hay prices have been supported in 2023 by a strong export market.

Barley hay

Barley hay has been proven to feed test very well.

It is less susceptible to stripe rust than wheat, but net blotch can be an issue in wet years.

It is an exceptional product and can be expected to be in strong demand.

Barley is generally less tolerant of acidic or waterlogged soil and more suited to a short season early maturity option.

Beardless varieties should be considered to widen your market options.

Wheaten hay

Wheat varieties tend to need to be sown very early in order to achieve maximum dry matter, especially if it is to be grazed.

Wheat varieties have a wide sowing window from early March to around June.

Wheat has a reasonable range of weed control options and is reasonably hardy and tolerant. It is, however, more susceptible to leaf diseases such as stripe rust.

Wheaten hay provides outstanding feed test results in drought years, especially when frosted. It has subsequently established a strong position in dairy and feedlot rations.

Growers can expect demand for frosted wheaten hay to be strong. Beardless varieties should be considered to widen your market options.

Triticale hay

Triticale is a hardy cereal which can tolerate a wide range of soil and seasonal conditions, including a greater tolerance for more water-logging than other cereals, although it is more susceptible to frost damage.

Most varieties are mid to late maturity and can be sown over a wide sowing window.

However, in our experience, Triticale has a lower feed test and can be difficult to sell as hay at times.

Mixed species

Adding legumes (peas and vetches) to cereal crops can improve the nutritive value slightly, usually at the expense of total yield.

However this may complicate weed and disease control, grazing and timing, as well as method of fodder conservation.

Cereal/legume mixes must be matched for their respective maturity dates with the purpose for which they are grown kept in mind.

That is, when the decision is made to harvest the crop mix at either the flag leaf (boot stage) or the late milk (soft dough) stage, the maturity of the particular legume chosen must closely match that of the cereal choice.

Pasture hay

Forage rye-grass provides the basis for high quality forage sown on an annual basis.

Forage rye-grass tolerates wet conditions better than oats and will produce 40 to 60 per cent higher winter growth than perennial rye-grass but requires high rainfall or irrigation to reach full potential.

It can be sown from mid-March to June.

Persian, Balansa, Berseem and Arrowleaf clover are annual legumes which provide high quality legume forage. White clover is currently considered the best legume to improve pasture feed quality for dryland pastures.

Any pasture hay with strong lucerne, rye or clover content that feed tests well should be in good demand, with pricing subject to the feed test results.

Vetch hay

Vetch hay makes a high quality, high protein (16 to 20 per cent protein) and highly palatable hay.

Slashers or rotary type mowers are preferred for hay making operations. Conventional cutter-bar type mowers are not suitable as they are prone to blockages from the vining growth.

The popularity of vetch continues to grow and it is often in high demand.

Lucerne hay

Lucerne is a versatile forage crop cultivated for its high nutritional value and adaptability.

It stands out for its protein-rich content and essential vitamins.

When compared to vetch or other legumes, lucerne hay frequently boasts a superior protein profile and better fibre digestibility.

Its deep root system enhances soil structure and nutrient absorption, contributing to overall farm sustainability.

Lucerne’s ability to fix nitrogen reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers, resulting in cost savings for farmers.

Its resilience to drought and pest resistance further solidify lucerne hay as a cost-effective and valuable component in livestock production.

Feed Central actively trades both dryland and irrigated lucerne.

Canola hay

Normally, canola hay is only cut as opportunity arises in drought or frost years. It is not traditionally a hay crop.

Canola feed tests very well and it has a different taste and smell from other hay crops.

There is a slightly higher chance of high nitrates in canola than in other hay.

Buyers either love it or hate it, with the best sales in drought years.

Growers and contractors are achieving better quality by cutting at full flower with a windrower and then conditioning it. Try to rake as little as possible to retain quality leaf.

Canola is not recommended for planting for a HYA crop.

From Feed Central’s Tips for a Profitable Hay Season 2024/2025.