Hay Matters

Feed Central
  • 5.0 (4)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

Stay up to date and learn more about the industry with the Feed Central Hay Matters Podcast – your portal to the intricate world of hay, brought to life through real stories and expert analysis.

  1. Seed, Germination & Hidden Forage Risks with Ken Cunliffe

    4 FEB

    Seed, Germination & Hidden Forage Risks with Ken Cunliffe

    In Season 3, Episode 1 of Hay Matters, Steve Page chats with Ken Cunliffe from AgEtal about why seed is one of the most critical inputs on farm. Ken explains: Germination vs vigour – how seed performs under stressFarm-saved vs purchased seed – what to check before plantingSeed storage & handling – why heat, moisture, and treatment matterPrussic acid & nitrate testing – managing hidden forage risksHe also shares insights into Feed Central’s in-field test kits, helping growers make faster, safer decisions for both crops and livestock. Listen now for practical tips to protect yield and reduce risk from planting through grazing.

    26 min
  2. Summer Series - From Baling to the Boardroom

    20 JAN

    Summer Series - From Baling to the Boardroom

    As the Hay Matters Summer Series wraps up, host Steve Page is joined by Harry Divall, a progressive hay and mixed farming operator based around West Wyalong and Stockinbingal, and a recent National Hay Award winner. Harry shares his journey into agriculture, from leaving school early and working with livestock in cold southern NSW, to discovering his passion for hay production and building a growing multi-farm operation. Together, they discuss the realities of making quality hay, managing weather risk, and adapting cropping and storage strategies across diverse regions. The conversation also explores Harry’s approach to crop rotations, soil health, silage versus hay decisions, and how spreading production geographically helps manage seasonal variability. Harry reflects on the steep learning curve of haymaking, the importance of continual improvement, and his vision for the future of the industry. The episode closes with Harry’s thoughts on joining the AFIA board, and his desire to see practical, accessible education become a cornerstone of the hay and silage sector. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Harry’s pathway into agriculture and hay productionLessons learned from producing quality hay in challenging seasonsCrop rotations including oats, barley, vetch, canola and lucerneManaging risk through silage, grain, and staggered cutting timesBenefits of farming across multiple regions and climatesHay storage strategies, including sheds and tarpingHarry’s goals for AFIA and industry educationThanks for listening to the Hay Matters Summer Series. Season 3 is coming soon with new conversations, fresh insights, and more stories from across the hay and forage industry. Interested in being a guest, sponsor, or advertiser? Get in touch with the team at Feed Central. The Hay Matters Podcast is proudly presented by Feed Central and LocalAg.

    13 min
  3. Summer Series - Mixing Family and Business in Ag

    6 JAN

    Summer Series - Mixing Family and Business in Ag

    In this Summer Series episode of the Hay Matters Podcast, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, host Jon Paul Driver chats with Megan Ford about her path into agriculture, the growth of Feed Central, and the changing role of women in the industry. Megan reflects on the early days of building a business alongside her husband Tim while raising a young family, sharing the realities of juggling growth, family life, and big ideas. From kitchen-table planning and conversations on the go, to moments that tested resilience, this episode offers an honest look at what it takes to build something lasting. Listeners will hear about the pivotal 2014 hay shed fire and how strong family, team, and community support helped shape Feed Central’s future. Megan also highlights the impact of women’s networks such as the Queensland Rural Women’s Network and Australian Women in Agriculture, and how mentorship and connection have supported leadership and confidence along the way. The conversation also unpacks the thinking behind LocalAg—a platform developed over years of listening to farmers and customers, designed to reflect how producers want to do business today: with flexibility, transparency, and trust at the core. A thoughtful and inspiring episode about resilience, relationships, and evolving agriculture in Australia.

    21 min
  4. Summer Series - Talking Grasses with Marty Conroy

    18/12/2025

    Summer Series - Talking Grasses with Marty Conroy

    In this episode of Hay Matters, host Jon Paul Driver chats with Marty Conroy, Agronomy Services Lead for Northern Australia at Barenbrug Seeds. From Northern NSW, Marty provides a practical look at tropical pasture systems across Queensland, the NT, and northern NSW. He unpacks the science behind C3 and C4 grasses, explains how feed quality drives profitability, and highlights the untapped potential of pasture management and modern breeding programs. Marty explains how pasture breeding is now focused on fibre quality, seasonal fit, and regional adaptability. C4 grasses like Rhodes and panicum are critical in northern systems, with planting tied to rainfall and temperature windows. Feed quality is key to intake, weight gain, and financial returns. The episode also explores accelerated breeding through genomic tools, underutilised C4 pasture management strategies, strategic input use such as nitrogen, and the importance of benchmarking paddock performance year-on-year to make smarter decisions in unpredictable seasons.

    27 min
  5. Summer Series - 1,000 Tonnes of Hidden Haylage with Pat Hull

    10/12/2025 · BONUS

    Summer Series - 1,000 Tonnes of Hidden Haylage with Pat Hull

    In this Summer Series episode of Hay Matters, Tim Ford and Grower Services Manager, Steve Page, revisit one of the most unique fodder stories we’ve come across — the unearthing and marketing of four- to five-year-old haylage buried in underground pits near Warren, NSW. This episode follows the full journey: from the moment new property owner Pat Hull realised he had up to 1,000 tonnes of haylage hidden beneath mounds on his driveway, to uncovering the pits, testing the feed, and successfully selling it to Victorian dairy farms through LocalAg. Steve first sets the scene, explaining how Pat discovered the buried forage sorghum bales left by the previous owner, who had sealed them underground during the exceptional 2020 season. When tight feed supplies hit southern Australia, Pat decided it was time to dig them up. The results were surprising — despite years underground, the haylage tested extremely well, with strong protein, energy and fibre readings. With quality confirmed, the product was listed on LocalAg, attracting interest from buyers across VIC and SA, all while avoiding the hassle of endless phone calls and unvetted enquiries. Listeners also hear from Ben Wright of Central West Contracting, the contractor who originally cut, conditioned, raked, baled and buried the haylage. Ben explains the conditions in 2019–20, how the crop was made into haylage due to cooler winter weather, the bale specifications used, and why buried feed can remain in top condition even decades later. Together, Pat and Ben offer a full picture of how buried haylage works, its value as a drought-proofing strategy and how modern tools like LocalAg make marketing niche products simpler than ever.

    26 min
  6. A Line in the Sand: Reflecting on 2025 and What's Ahead for the Hay Industry

    05/11/2025

    A Line in the Sand: Reflecting on 2025 and What's Ahead for the Hay Industry

    In the final Hay Matters episode of the season, host Steve Page sits down with Tim Ford, Managing Director of Feed Central and LocalAg, to reflect on an eventful year for the fodder industry. They unpack the challenges and opportunities across regions, discuss how the Feed Central and LocalAg partnership has evolved, and share insights on what 2026 might hold for hay growers, traders, and buyers across Australia. 1. A Year of Change and Growth Feed Central and LocalAg have formally separated their Quality Assurance and Marketplace functions, creating independence and clarity for clients.The focus moving forward is helping farmers understand how both arms work together to improve transparency and trust.2. A Tough but Rewarding Season Southern regions faced weather damage and tough conditions, while Central and Northern NSW and Southern Queensland enjoyed exceptional hay quality and yields.Modern cropping techniques are producing strong results despite low rainfall — proof of innovation in the industry.3. Diversity Builds Resilience Successful growers are those who diversify — balancing hay, grain, pulses, storage, and even transport.Flexibility in switching between hay and grain helps spread risk and manage volatile markets.4. Quality and Trust Drive Profit Feed Central’s Quality Assurance System ensures consistency in testing and grading — giving buyers confidence and helping sellers achieve premium prices.A recent standout sale of vetch hay highlighted how quality, testing, and transparency lead to win–win deals.5. Technology Meets Relationships The new LocalAg platform allows direct communication between buyers and sellers, backed by Feed Central’s support team and Check Vault secure payments.Relationships remain central — technology enhances, not replaces, the trust built in the paddock.6. Market Volatility and the Road Ahead 2025 has been one of the most volatile years in 25 years of hay trading.Tim predicts record hay prices again in 2026, driven by inevitable dry spells and unprepared buyers.The aim for the coming year: education, stability, and better-informed trading across the industry.

    23 min
  7. New Season Hay Report – Quality, Yields and Market Outlook

    22/10/2025

    New Season Hay Report – Quality, Yields and Market Outlook

    In this episode of Hay Matters, recorded on Thursday 16 October 2025, Cara Stewart steps in as guest host to chat with Feed Central’s Grower Services Manager and Podcast Host, Steve Page and National Sales Manager, David Clothier. Between Steve’s time on the road inspecting new season hay and Dave’s work connecting buyers and sellers across Australia, they bring an on-the-ground look at what’s happening in the hay market right now. From the standout quality in southern Queensland to the first vetch crops ever inspected west of Goondiwindi, this episode unpacks the season’s early results, key market movements, and what both growers and buyers should be planning for in the months ahead. Key Topics Covered: Early results from the 2025 hay season across Queensland and New South WalesRecord-quality cereal and vetch hay and the first inspected lots from Western AustraliaHow strong hay-to-grain gross margins are influencing grower decisionsNational inspection results: 22,000 tonnes tested and graded through Feed CentralMarket trends as buyers restock after starting the year with “empty cupboards”Pricing realities for shedded hay versus paddock stacksThe importance of feed testing, visual grading, and on-farm inspectionsHow proper stacking, sheds, and hay caps protect product and maximise returnsShort-term and long-term market outlook, including livestock demand and export interestPractical advice for both buyers and sellers navigating a busy seasonWhy Listen? This episode offers a grounded look at the new season’s realities - from paddock conditions to price dynamics. Whether you’re producing, storing, or buying hay, you’ll find practical insights to help make informed decisions this season. It’s an honest conversation about quality, supply, and the smarter ways to market and manage your hay in 2025.

    26 min
  8. 2025 Hay Quality Award Winners - With Wade Alexander (Part 2)

    08/10/2025

    2025 Hay Quality Award Winners - With Wade Alexander (Part 2)

    In this follow-up episode, Steve Page continues his conversation with award-winning lucerne hay producer Wade Alexander from Mundubbera, QLD. Wade opens up about the tough lessons learned from the 2013 floods, his approach to risk management, and how he’s future-proofing his family farm through smart planning, water efficiency, and sound financial strategies. 🌾 Key Topics Covered: Floods, storms and lessons learned: How the Alexanders rebuilt stronger after disaster struck.Insurance and risk management: The value of insuring for the worst and learning from the past.Efficient irrigation and rising power costs: Why Wade is transitioning from high-pressure pivots to low-pressure laterals.The economics of lucerne: Balancing high machinery costs, input efficiency, and quality production.Lucerne establishment and management: Soil prep, fertiliser programs, and why Wade replants every three years.Marketing through Feed Central and LocalAg: Building trust, ensuring secure payments, and staying connected to repeat buyers.Family, work-life balance, and resilience: Why Wade chooses life on the farm over high-income work away from home.🎙️ Why Listen This episode delivers a grounded look at what it takes to survive and thrive in Australia’s hay industry. Wade shares the reality behind producing premium lucerne - from irrigation and power costs to marketing and resilience - offering practical insights for farmers of any scale.

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Stay up to date and learn more about the industry with the Feed Central Hay Matters Podcast – your portal to the intricate world of hay, brought to life through real stories and expert analysis.

Information

  • Creator
    Feed Central
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Feed Central 2024
  • Show Website
    Hay Matters

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