HIGH rainfall in September, October and November have delayed cutting, but growers and others in the hay and silage industry had reasonably assumed fine curing weather would return in November.
All crops of pasture hay cut before the middle of November have been hit with between three and five rain events and nearly all hay cut in North East Victoria since then have been exposed to more than 150mm plus of rain in November alone.
While the warmer, dryer weather has arrived for our region, is a race against the clock for local farmers to attempt to get machinery on the ground and begin harvesting hay, silage and fodder in the hope that supply is high and prices are kept low.
The thought of abandonment is not an option for farmers despite harvesting difficulties due to saturated and in some places, sodden soils according to local farms
Bailey Hourigan, operations manager at Darrynvale Jerseys, said that the quality and quantity of hay is down this year because of recent floods.
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"We haven't harvested as much hay this year due to access with machinery, along with the base of the grass leaf being covered in mud," Mr Hourigan said.
"The quality of hay and silage will affect sales and feed for our dairy farm which will further affect milk production.
"A lot of farmers have missed the window of harvest as the grass is too mature and has collapsed.
"We have managed to harvest some quality hay and silage, however, the figures are way down in comparison to an average season.
"Our farm, along with many others, is still experiencing wet spots and wet paddocks, which means only a percentage can be harvested while the remainder is left to cure and rot."
He said hay growers have never seen a year like it as the area sown to hay crops have already fallen two years running thanks to La Nina.
Mr Hourigan said frtiliser and lime super phosphate are spread from February until May with Nitrogen dosed in the winter usually before rain, however, the further harvesting runs behind the more difficult land can be prepared for the next season.
"Buyers also fear supplies of summer crops will be greatly restricted as well which will have an impact on the local dairy industry and cattle farms," he said.
Dairy farmers will be looking for high quality hay to supplement their poor–quality pasture hay and silage.
"Farmers are many weeks behind and harvesting could blow out as far as December to January next year which will post further problems such as preparing soils for next autumn which again would put the schedule further behind."
"Harvesting is not an option for many as it could take weeks for things to dry out," Mr Hourigan said.
"The main issue right now is local contractors are struggling to find work as many properties cannot have machinery due to the risk of being bogged or damaged grass.
"We like to see around 30–40 per cent of moisture in bails but the numbers are much higher in some cases with further reduces the quality."
He said the weather outlook continues to remain mainly dry as farmers are working long hours into the night to try and revive their season somewhat.
