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Canola Hay production is not reccomended this The main disadvantages of millet are it’s
year. vulnerabilitiy to heat stress at emergence and low
germination percentages on heavy soils. On the
Pasture Hay VS Tropical Pasture: Based on past other hand, it does enjoy light textured soils, a fine
experience any pasture with strong lucerne or clover seed bed and after the two leaf stage it is a very
content will feed test well and will be in good tough plant. The best varieties for hay production
demand, with pricing subject to the feed analysis. are red pannicum and panorama. White French

Peas, Vetch, Beans etc.: Expect very strong millet is not suitable for hay production.
demand for these lines, especially where the feed
analysis is good. Traditionally only low volumes of Forage Sorghum: A high attention to detail is
To help guide you through your hay making Q. 3: WHY MAKE HAY? these types are produced. required to make good quality forage sorghum hay.
experiences, the following QUESTIONS Producers who specialise in it and focus on cutting it
may be very useful. Quality hay will often out perform most crops on a Millet Hay: Red Pannicum and Panaroma Millets young and getting it cured can do very well out of
the product. Generally buyers steer away from
gross margin per ha basis. Fodder crops provide an make good quality hay in summer, where either forage sorghum hay, during to historical experience
irrigation or summer rainfall allows. Millet hay is an
Q. 1: WILL THERE BE A MARKET FOR important weed and disease management strategy exceptional option in cooler and lighter soiled in buying low grade forage sorghum hay.
MY HAY? and these ‘hidden’ rotational benefits need to be country in Southern Queensland. Millet straw can
considered.
also be a solid option, once the grain has been Some of the pitfalls include:
The short answer is ABSOLUTELY - YES. Every Additionally, fodder crops allow grazing to occur harvested.
year around 9 million tonnes of fodder (hay, straw earlier than with a grain crop and in some regions
and silage) is made. Total value is around $1.3 facilitate double cropping. The advantages of millet hay: Grows too fast
billion. Approximately half is traded and half retained Uses a lot of water and nutrients
for on farm use. Drought, frost etc. can result in non-traditional hay Fast maturity but not too fast

crops being a very viable income opportunity. Uses less water and nutrients than forage Relatively low yield (unless there is a lot of rain)
This being said, buyers are increasingly interested in sorghum
quality hay. Growers with quality hay have and Even when irrigated the crop does not seem to
continue to be rewarded. Q. 4: WHAT TYPE OF HAY SHOULD I Under stress it stops growing and then re-starts perform well
MAKE? again after rain. It does not panic. Therefore
Q. 2: WHAT ABOUT SUPPLY, WILL even with drought stress it can yield well, Budget on 3 tonnes per acre from 3 cuts

THERE BE AN OVERSUPPLY? Any grass, pasture, cereal, legume or oilseed that especially if rain eventually falls Cutting the crop 3 times to get 3 tonne increases
will have a good feed analysis can be cut for hay. harvest costs
The short answer is – NO, we do not believe so. Examples of these are below: Like cereal, cut in flower when the head is out, it
is easier to dry down/cure resulting in a good
Historically Feed Central always seems to run out of feed test. Very slow and difficult to dry down / cure
good quality hay to sell. Lucerne Hay: Lucerne makes very nice hay and
can be expected to feed test very well. Irrigation Open pollinated, therefore seed can be kept Seed is expensive
The only exception to this was the 2016-2017 water for lucerne production is short, therefore from one year to the next. Plant thick e.g. 15-30
season. A relatively small percentage of this product expect low supply. Good lucerne hay will be in kg ha to maximise plant population and Limited market uses
will carry over for sale in 2018. strong demand. decrease stem thickness Generally poor feed analysis results; newer

Cereal Crops: Wheaten hay provides exceptional Yields very well over one cut e.g. 3 tonne / acre, varieties are better than the old, but results are
2016-17 season product was of low quality due to
the exceptional growing conditions and large / very feed analysis in drought years; subsequently it has therefore low cost of production still highly variable
high yielding crops. The best of this product has now created a very strong position in dairy and feed Open to all markets, including horses Not suitable for the horse market
rations. Expect demand for droughted wheaten hay
sold, leaving only the lower quality product.
to be strong. Barley hay has also proven to feed test
very well. Oaten hay has been available for many Potential for prussic acid and nitrate poisoning.
2017-18 product is expected to be of much higher years and while it has not been producing feed test Newer varieties have dramatically lower risks,
quality. While old season stock will be a weight results as good as wheat or barley, it is an but a risk is still there.
around the industries neck for a month or two, we exceptional product and can be expected to be in
expect buyers will soon see and value the higher strong demand.
quality product. New season product can be
expected to sell at a significatnly different price to Canola Hay: Canola does feed test very well, but it
old season product. has a different taste and smell. Buyers either love it

or hate it. It is not the purchase of first choice for
The shortage most often eventuates during autumn most hay buyers. Clients should be aware that there
and winter months. There is a long term market is a potential of nitrate poisoning with canola, an
opportunity for good quality hay. This market is issue that Feed Central tests for and can be
growing and has historically been under supplied. managed with care.

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