In this first of a two part series of Hay Matters, Steve Page speaks with Wade Alexander from Mundubbera, Queensland - the winner of the Queensland Visual Lucerne Hay Award and the National Dual Visual Award.

Wade shares his journey from growing up on a poultry farm to becoming a lucerne hay producer. After floods devastated his family’s property in 2013, Wade rebuilt with a new focus on irrigation and hay production, leaning on his engineering background to master the machinery and systems needed to survive.

Key Topics Covered:

• Wade’s shift from poultry and cattle to lucerne hay
• The role of irrigation bores and Mundubbera’s unique conditions
• Machinery choices: from round balers to big square bales
• Building a customer base and working with Feed Central
• Weather challenges in Queensland and how Wade manages risk in hay production
• Using inoculants and moisture management to maintain hay quality
• The importance of off-farm income and contracting to spread financial risk
• Forward planning, financial management, and why storage doesn’t always equal “money in the bank”
• Wade’s mindset on risk, resilience, and what keeps him motivated each morning

Why Listen?

This episode is full of practical insights for farmers navigating hay production and trade - from managing machinery and weather challenges to making financial decisions that reduce risk. Wade’s story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the value of producing quality hay that customers can trust.

Next Episode (Part 2): Wade will share how he manages disasters, his lucerne planting cycle, and future plans for his farming operation.

PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by Local Ag and Feed Central, Steve Page continues celebrating this year's National Hay Quality Award winners with another outstanding partnership. In the Riverina, Michael Pfitzner has secured back-to-back vetch hay Visual Awards – the National winner last year and NSW State winner this year, working closely with contractor Wayne Williams to achieve consistently exceptional results. Their collaboration showcases the precision timing and equipment choices that separate award-winning hay from the rest of the field.

● Michael and Drew Pfitzner operate 3,400 hectares (8,500 acres) of cropping in the Riverina with vetch comprising 10-12% of their rotation alongside other legumes including lupins, lentils and peas.

● Their award-winning vetch hay achieved 3-4 tonne per hectare yields across multiple paddocks, with the state award-winning lot stored under hay caps in the paddock and successfully avoiding rain damage.

● Wayne Williams uses a Claas 930 with triple 10-meter mowers cutting 50 acres per hour, followed by a 10-meter merger for windrow management and a New Holland 1290 HD baler with loop knot system producing 650kg bales.

● Strategic use of silage inoculant proved crucial when September weather turned challenging, with only 20 out of 1,000 bales showing heat issues after rain events that required re-working the windrows.

● Michael has used the Local Ag Marketplace platform and likes that it provided secure payment systems and is creating trusted buyer-seller relationships through built-in messaging and transparent transaction processes.

● Machinery ownership challenges drive contractor relationships, with Wayne’s specialised equipment including merger technology capable of combining 2-5 windrows and shifting material up to 30 feet in single passes for optimal bale density.

● Wayne had a devastating shed fire last year that destroyed 1,000 tonnes of lucerne-sorghum mix hay after seven weeks in storage, highlighting critical insurance lessons with shed values nearly doubling during the four-year period since construction.

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, Steve Page catches up with two of our 2025 National Hay Quality Award winners - Grant Alday and Ben Wright. At Sea Lake in Northwest Victoria, grain grower Grant turned a challenging frost-damaged season into profitability by pivoting to hay production, earning both National Cereal Hay Feed Test and Visual awards. Meanwhile, contractor Ben Wright from Central West Contracting shares insights into achieving the National Heaviest Cereal Straw Bale award and the equipment strategies behind consistent, high-density bale production.

• Grant Alday's mixed farming operation at Sea Lake typically dedicates 8-10% of area to oat hay and another 8-10% to vetch, but last season's widespread frost damage prompted an opportunistic shift to cut hay across multiple paddocks.
• The decision to cut frost-damaged crops for hay transformed what would have been a break-even season into a profitable one, with over 9,000 bales produced compared to their typical 4,000-6,000 bale annual output.
• Strategic hay cutting eliminated harvest headaches by removing problematic regrowth areas and avoiding the challenge of blending mature grain with frost-damaged sections, particularly in lower-lying paddocks with retained moisture.
• Chemical withholding periods became a critical timing consideration, with fungicide applications creating mandatory waiting periods before hay cutting could commence on treated paddocks.
• Ben Wright's national heaviest cereal bale award-winning wheat straw averaged 14.2% moisture and was produced using an eight-string Krone baler, achieving bale rates of up to one every 20 seconds in optimal conditions.
• Eight-string balers offer some advantages over six-string models through improved durability, fewer string breaks, heavier bale weights for better storage efficiency, and reduced transport costs per tonne.
• Ben's two eight-string Krone balers each process 15,000-20,000 bales annually, with comprehensive yearly maintenance programs focusing on VFS systems, knotters, and bushes to maintain peak performance.

Podcast Highlights

In the latest episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, Steve Page catches up with Harry Divall; hay contractor, grower and AFIA board member. Harry shares his path from livestock work in Goulburn to running a growing hay operation across West Wyalong, Stockinbingal, and Crookwell. He shares the ups and downs of learning how to make quality hay, how he manages seasonal risk, and what he hopes to contribute to the fodder industry.

• Harry left school early and started fencing and working cattle near Goulburn before setting up a mixer on the family farm to boost weight gains in steers and heifers
• Cold conditions limited hay production at home, so his family expanded west and bought their first baler, a Massey 2270XD, in 2016
• He now operates two Krone balers and produces between 15,000 and 25,000 bales a year, depending on the season
• With farms spread across Goulburn, Stockinbingal and West Wyalong, he uses geography to manage weather risk and extend the cutting window from September to January
• Crop rotations include oats, barley and vetch out west, with canola, oats, barley and lucerne on the Stockinbingal farm
• Harry adjusts his plan each year, converting crops to silage or grain when conditions aren’t right for hay
• Shed storage now holds over 2,000 bales, but he’s also experimenting with tarping, aiming to protect quality from the bottom up
• As a new AFIA board member, Harry wants to make learning resources more visual and hands-on, helping others see what good practice looks like in the paddock

In the latest episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, we welcome back a familiar voice. Graham (Thommo) Thomson joins Steve Page live from the 2025 AFIA Conference to reflect on one of the toughest seasons he’s seen in more than five decades. With his hard-earned perspective, Thommo shares how he kept going through record-low rainfall, what he saw on the road north, and why he’s still not ready to retire.

• Thommo shares that this past year brought the lowest rainfall he’s recorded in 52 years of daily measurements on his farm, and how a patch of leased river country helped him scrape through
• He talks about the daily challenge of feeding stock when there’s nothing in the paddock — and how sheep were chasing anything that looked like a bale
• A long drive to the Gold Coast revealed just how bare things are, with empty sheds and only small loads of hay moving south
• Despite the tough conditions, livestock prices stayed strong, giving some much-needed breathing room
• Thommo shares why he keeps showing up to the AFIA Conference, and what’s changed (and stayed the same) in the industry
• He’s not retiring yet — with a capable apprentice at home, he’s keen to learn more about tech and continue mentoring the next generation

And before we go… Jon Paul shares a quick update: he’ll be handing over the hosting reins to Steve and Alex, as he focuses on some exciting new projects with Feed Central. He’ll still pop in from time to time — and he’s looking forward to sharing what’s next.

Podcast Highlights

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, Grower Services Manager Steve Page hits the road to uncover a unique regional story of buried haylage, long-term storage, and unexpected opportunity.

When grain grower Pat Hull purchased a property near Warren in 2022, he wasn’t expecting to find over 1,000 tonnes of buried forage sorghum haylage stored in pits by the previous owner, following the drought-breaking rains of 2020. With no livestock of his own and limited on-farm use, Pat turned to LocalAg to connect with buyers further south, and the response was immediate.

• The haylage was originally cut, baled and buried in 2020 by contractor Ben Wright from Central West Contracting, after strong summer growth
• Bales were stacked four high in excavated pits, wrapped in plastic and sealed with soil for long-term storage and pest protection
• Feed tests returned excellent results for aged haylage: 12.4% CP, 9.25 MJ/kg ME, 51.4% NDF, 35.7% ADF, and 41.7% DM
• Pat listed the product on LocalAg using original baling photos, generating national interest before opening any pits
• With feed shortages in Victoria, the first truckload has already moved to southern dairies, with more to follow
• Hay contractor Ben Wright shares practical insights on why buried haylage works, key moisture thresholds, and how proper handling influences long-term results

Podcast Highlights

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, Jon Paul Driver is joined by National Sales Manager Dave Clothier to unpack current fodder market conditions. With drought in the south driving record demand and pushing prices up fast, Dave explains what’s moving across the country and what’s not — and what buyers and sellers need to know as an early northern season begins to take shape.

• April and May marked one of the busiest trading periods Feed Central has seen in over 20 years, as drought across southern NSW, Victoria and SA pushed up demand
• Many southern growers held onto hay, concerned the dry conditions would extend north, which further tightened supply during a period of rapidly increasing demand
• Rain has restored some confidence but feed shortages are expected to continue for six to eight weeks while pasture growth catches up
• While Western Australia and Northern Territory have good supply, biosecurity restrictions and high freight costs are limiting movement east
• Prices are sitting above $400 ex farm for cereal hay and $600 for lucerne, with freight adding up to $350 per tonne and some landed prices topping $700
• In some cases straw is being transported long distances to fill gaps in southern supply and buyers are feeding at any cost to retain core breeding herds
• Northern Australia is set for an early season with cereal hay cuts expected from mid July while southern crops remain four to six weeks behind
• With the new financial year underway, more growers are releasing hay to the market but windows are narrow and buyers should act quickly
• Price pressure is expected to remain until southern yield prospects become clearer

Podcast Highlights

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, host Jon Paul Driver concludes his three-part series with South Australian farmer Matt Eckert. This final instalment shifts focus to the financial, mechanical, and personal pressures that often sit behind the paddock - and how Matt and his team are navigating them.

From soaring machinery costs and safety scares to family life, team trust, and planning for the future, this conversation reveals the daily challenges that aren't always get discussed, but shape everything on the farm.

• Why machinery costs are blowing out and how that’s reshaping timelines for soil improvement and capital investment
• What efficiency really looks like across an operation, and how mismatched upgrades can create new bottlenecks
• Lessons from scaling up hay production, from baler selection to matching loaders, trucks and shed space
• How past safety incidents have prompted changes in processes and a stronger focus on risk management
• Why trust and teamwork are central to how the farm operates today and how stepping back has helped others step up
• The juggling act of parenting, marriage and leadership and how Matt is learning to keep farm pressures from following him home
• What tough seasons have taught Matt and why backing your people makes all the difference

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, host Jon Paul Driver continues the conversation with South Australian farmer Matt Eckert. In Part 2 of this three-part series, Matt opens up about the people, mindset, and decisions that help keep the wheels turning during hard seasons.

From financial pressure and breakdowns to succession planning and emotional burnout, this episode digs into the less visible side of managing a large farming operation in a drought — and the personal resilience it takes to carry it through.

• How a tight-knit team, family loyalty, and off-farm connections have helped carry the business through some of its hardest seasons
• Why your relationship with the bank needs to be built before things go wrong — and how it pays off when flexibility is needed
• The story behind three trucks, a 53-metre road train, and how hauling hay turned into a lifeline
• Why adaptability beats prediction - and how building practical ability into the business opened unexpected doors
• How a shared focus on quality and ag systems has strengthened a long-standing working relationship with Feed Central and LocalAg
• Why succession planning, clear communication, and staying close as brothers matters more than ever in generational farming
• How back-to-back breakdowns, fires, and a sudden dry season pushed mental resilience to the limit
• Matt’s advice for getting through the hard seasons - and why they sometimes bring the clarity needed to change direction

Podcast Highlights

In this episode of Hay Matters, brought to you by LocalAg and Feed Central, host Jon Paul Driver speaks with South Australian grower Matt Eckert in the first of a three-part series. Matt shares a candid look at the decisions, trade-offs, and resilience required to keep a mixed farming operation running during a prolonged dry spell.

With the region facing one of its hardest seasons in recent years, Matt opens up about the real impact of drought — from feed shortages and pasture losses to the mental load of managing stock and cropping programs when nothing goes to plan.

• Drought pressure is forcing a rethink of pasture renovation and cropping programs across mixed farms
• Resowing lucerne has its limits - and knowing when to push on or start again is shaping long-term plans
• Soil amelioration, including deep ploughing and clay spreading, continues to improve outcomes but isn’t a fix-all in extreme seasons
• Seeding strategies are being adjusted in real time, with lessons from previous dry years influencing crop timing, inputs, and variety choice
• Early fodder purchasing and stored inventory have been critical in keeping livestock fed and breeding programs afloat
• Decisions around feeding, destocking, and confinement lambing are being made fast, with economics and animal welfare front of mind
• While the short-term outlook is tight, a clear long-term view is helping guide every decision on the farm