Atherton Tableland

Notes:

Commentary

• The harvest of peanut crops has been a key activity across the region with hay making and a range of other activities also being undertaken. It is busy time for growers taking advantage of the favourable, sunny weather.
• An increase in plantings of sugar cane has been seen. Due to expectations of continued high input costs and the need for a more steady and guaranteed return.
• Machinery repair costs, long delays to access replacement parts and high input prices will deter many producers from opportunistic hay production in the coming seasons due to lack of profitable return.
• For growers who recently harvested pasture for seed or hay, decisions are being made not to invest in fertiliser (at current prices between $3,000 to $4,000/acre while a drop in prices is expected but has not been passed on to producers yet) to produce a future crop of hay. Given currently low demand for hay, a high percentage of pastures will be left and used as a green manure mulch for the paddock.
• Fuel prices dropped slightly to $2.09/litre but are expected to rise again soon.
• Slow trade and low movement of fodder. Some increase in trade is expected as winter progresses.
• No change to pricing this week.
• Pasture (Rhodes Grass) hay: +/-0 ($300 to $400/t). Prices remain steady.
• Please note: Hay in the Atherton Tablelands is traditionally priced at $/bale, so it is important to check bale weights for conversion. The price range indicated is for feeds of varying quality with the price range generally indicative of quality of feed. We recommend feed testing and viewing of fodder before purchase to be sure of the quality of feed.