THE prospect of a wet spring has urged many farmers to consider silage production over hay this year.
Lake Boga hay contractor Adam Taylor said there was a growing trend towards silage, particularly this year, off the back of a favourable autumn and winter, and what is forecast to be a wet spring.
“We’re seeing more and more farmers utilise silage between Swan Hill and Cohuna,” Mr Taylor said, noting many livestock and dairy farmers preferred silage due to its nutritional value over hay.
In the process of cutting silage, Mr Taylor said, perfect weather conditions in the lead-up to this year’s hay season meant many farmers were in the process of deciding whether they cut their crop for silage or hay or harvested it for grain.
“Some crops are too far advanced to cut for hay at this stage so farmers are opting for silage,” Mr Taylor said.
“You can get silage in a bale a lot quicker than hay.”
Mr Taylor said many farmers were factoring in the spring weather forecast, with many cereal growers still undecided about what path they would pursue.
“There are some magnificent crops out there and the tonnage is really good, but it’s all going to be dependent on the weather.” He said this was a critical time for farmers.
“There’s good quality vetch and cereal hay and the demand is there.”
The increasing costs associated with farming, including rising diesel, chemical and fertiliser costs, were also weighing heavily on the decision-making process for many local farmers.
“It’s always hard for the cereal and grain growers,” Mr Taylor said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated high rainfall for the next two months in the lead-up to harvest.
While grain prices have dropped slightly in recent months, promising yields and the potential for a bumper season may play a role in how much hay and silage is produced this year.
“There are some great-looking crops out there, which would result in a good income at harvest,” Mr Taylor said.
“Farmers will need commodity prices to stay high to offset the high input costs.”
The next few weeks will be vital in preparing for the upcoming harvest season and Mr Taylor said farmers were keeping a keen eye on the weather, hoping that frost, disease and hail wouldn’t impact them this late in the season.
“Farmers are working out what the weather fronts are doing, and going from there,” Mr Taylor said.
“The potential threat of frost will trigger decisions, whether farmers will opt for grain or hay, with these scenarios playing out over the next few weeks.”
Despite the uncertainty, Mr Taylor said farmers remained optimistic with the silage and hay outlook.
“It’s potentially going to be a magnificent year, depending on the rainfall,” he said.
“There’s good quality and good bulk – the key is to bale it at the optimum time.”
