Farmers from across Australia have been rewarded for making top-quality hay in a season that marked a return to good growing conditions.

Growers from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia shared the top honours in the 2023-24 Feed Central National Hay Quality awards presented during the 2024 Australian Fodder Industry Association conference in Coffs Harbour.

One farmer, Wade Alexander from Riverleigh Queensland, has taken out two national awards.

Wade Alexander and family.

Feed Central managing director Tim Ford said all winners had excelled. “Making hay is never easy and making good hay is a real skill so the winners deserve a pat on the back for their success,” Mr Ford said.

The Feed Central National Hay Quality awards include both national and state winners for visual appearance and feed test covering the three major hay types, vetch, lucerne and cereal.

The national best visual appearance for cereal hay was won by the Bell Group from Narromine, NSW, for lucerne hay Wade Alexander and family from Riverleigh, Queensland and vetch hay Fitz Farming, Griffith, NSW with contractor Kenlock Cropping.

Tom Bell with manager Nathan Orington.

The best feed test analysis national award for cereal hay went to Laurie Williams and Angela Sutherland from More Rain Downs at Keith, SA with contractor: Cloverhill Farms, for lucerne Wade Alexander and family from Riverleigh, Queensland and vetch hay feed Canitya Farms from Murrayville, Victoria.

The heaviest cereal bale at 770kg was grown by Harry Divall from Carrick, NSW and the heaviest straw bale at 589kg was grown by Gus Thompson of Oakben Agricultural Co from Rawsonville, NSW.

The Accredited Supplier Award went to Scott and Dianna Baxter and family from Lislea Lodge at Picola in Victoria.

Scott and Dianna Baxter and family.

State award winners will be announced and presented on farm during a national growers’ tour in August.

Mr Ford said the 2023-24 hay making season produced substantially better results than the previous year.

“The big three – cereal, lucerne and vetch – all had vastly improved quality and, until recently, good supplies,” he said.

Michael and Drew Pfitzner.

“The previous year was impacted by wet weather but the 2023-24 season offered really good hay making conditions which can be seen in the results.

“Feed Central inspected more than 300,000 tonne of hay during the financial year, making the efforts of the winners even more impressive.”

The Feed Central National Hay Quality awards recognise and encourage growers to aim for high quality hay. Hay listed with Feed Central in preparation for sale is inspected on-farm by a certified Feed Central inspector and is eligible for entry in the competition.

More details can be found at www.feedcentral.com.au.  Feed Central aims to connect buyers and sellers of fodder and buys, sells and tests hay, grain, silage, straw, by-product and fertiliser.