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.