The 2020-21 hay season is in full swing as farmers cut, rake and bale pastures, crop stubble and lucerne.
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As spring makes way for summer and the weather heats up haymaking becomes a priority for the Hunter's irrigators.
Haysheds cleaned out during the prolonged drought are finally being replenished and the cobwebs removed.
Wrapped round bales stretch along fence lines on many farms across the region as a cool and wet spring, allowed producers to cut abundant pastures, and turn it into silage.
This is all in stark contrast to the previous three summers when every bit of fodder made was either, quickly fed out, or on-sold to desperate livestock producers looking for feed to sustain their animals.
Remember the B-double trucks loaded with hay coming from Victoria and South Australia. Some hay was kindly donated but the bulk was bought and immediately consumed.
Now the only downside for hay producers is the fact prices are nowhere near the $30/small square bale they were this time last year. Prices vary depending on the content but lucerne hay can be bought on-farm for $17/bale. So for anyone looking to restock their fodder supplies now would be the ideal time.
In recent weeks there have been fires reported in haysheds as just baled hay, perhaps hurriedly stored due to approaching storms, has combusted and caused the fire ignition.