Page Content
Feed Grain and Fodder Availability
The Australian Government recognises that the continuing drought is creating significant uncertainty and is forcing Australian farmers to make increasingly difficult decisions regarding stock management.
A very poor 2006 winter grain crop harvest, and a 2006-2007 summer crop less than half the previous year, has prompted concerns over the quantity of grain stocks in Australia to service the domestic livestock industries. With the significant reduction in production, grain price increases have substantially increased the cost of production in grain using industries.
In response, DAFF is working with industry organisations and other Government agencies on a number of fronts to provide relevant and timely information to feed users and suppliers to assist their decision making during this difficult period.
The information presented on this webpage aims to provide users of feed with broad, up-to-date data on supply and demand estimates, and includes links to:
- Estimates of domestic grain stocks, collected by the ABS and ABARE.
- Updates from Biosecurity Australia and the AQIS regarding the latest assessments of countries from which grain and other stock feed may be imported.
- Various industry and state representative farming organisations that have established specific feed grain/drought information portals, and
- Updates of latest grain and fodder supplies and demand as reported by ABARE.
Assuming average yields, 2007-08 winter crop production is forecast to rebound to around 37 million tonnes (ABARE Crop Report - 19 June 2007). DAFF will continue to consult closely with industry and other relevant agencies to ensure stakeholders are informed of any developments on the availability of feed in Australia including any importation of feed grain.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
DAFF has contracted the ABS to survey and report monthly off-farm grain stocks held by bulk handling companies and grain traders in Australia. Funding is being provided by Australian Pork Limited, Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Australian Dairy Farmers, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation. Starting with data as at 30 October 2006, view the latest monthly survey results.
The ABS data provides important information to grain users on how much grain is currently being held by the major storage operators in Australia
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
To complement the ABS off-farm grain stocks data, DAFF funded ABARE to undertake an analysis of regional feedgrain demand and supply in 2006-07 and to produce a report for use by industry. The report incorporates the ABS off-farm grain stocks data to January 2007 and new on-farm grain stocks data collected by ABARE and funded by the above mentioned industry bodies.
The ABARE report provides a broad indication of projected regional grain supply, demand and transfers given assumptions about crop production and prices, livestock numbers and transport costs.
In considering these estimates, it needs to be recognised that actual market outcomes may differ as they will depend on a multitude of individual day to day decisions made by growers, traders and users of feedgrains in response to changing perceptions about feed and livestock prices, seasonal conditions and other costs.
Download the ABARE report - Feedgrains: regional demand and supply in Australia 
PDF [340kb].
DAFF also commissioned ABARE to undertake a survey of dairy farms in April and May 2007 concerning feed supplies and drought management issues. Download the ABARE report – Australian Dairy Feed Availability - June 2007 PDF [651kb].
ABARE also produces the Australian Crop Report. Released four times a year, the Australian Crop Report provides a consistent and regular assessment of crop prospects for major field crops, estimates of area, yield and production and a summary of seasonal conditions on a state by state basis.
feed.FIBRE.future
The Australian Government’s Industry Partnerships Program has provided $400,000 in funding to the Australian Dairy Farmers and the Cattle Council of Australia to help stage 36 feed.FIBRE.future workshops across the country in June and July 2007. The workshops provide farmers with practical and expert advice on issues such as feed ratios, managing herd numbers and regional differences in feed availability.
For further information on the workshops, such as dates and locations, see the Dairy Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia websites. Factsheets on fibre are also available on the Dairy Australia website.
Biosecurity Australia and AQIS
Biosecurity Australia has assessed low risk sources of bulk grain and recommends that imports of: wheat from selected sites in the United Kingdom; wheat and rye from selected sites in Canada; sorghum and maize from selected states in the USA; maize, sunflower, sorghum, soybean and wheat from Argentina; and soybean from Paraguay could be permitted, subject to strict quarantine conditions, including processing at AQIS-approved facilities in metropolitan areas.
Permit conditions also exist to import some stock feeds assessed as manageable quarantine risks. These include – soybean meal from the USA, Brazil, Argentina and Malaysia; palm kernel meal from PNG and Malaysia; copra meal from a number of pacific island countries, Indonesia and the Philippines; corn gluten meal from China and the US; stock feed pellets from New Zealand; tapioca pellets from Thailand; millrun from PNG and Fiji, and sugar beet pulp from the UK.
Biosecurity Australia has identified significant quarantine risks associated with the importation of hay and straw into Australia. No countries have been assessed as suitable sources for the importation of these products.
Further enquires regarding the quarantine requirements for importing feed grain and fodder AQIS plant quarantine.
The domestic grain data provided through ABS and ABARE, combined with regular updates on potential/actual grain imports, should assist the livestock industries in developing strategies to manage the current drought, including making decisions on the flow of grain within and into Australia.
Industry Bodies
There are a number of significant primary industries that are affected by the availability of stock feeds in Australia. In response to the continuing drought some peak industry bodies have put together information and advice relevant to the use of stock feed in their industries.
- Australian Pork Limited
- Dairy Australia
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Australian Lot Feeders Association
- Australian Chicken Meat Federation
- Grain Council of Australia
- Grain Growers Association
Industry Representative Bodies
South Australian Farmers Federation
A register of available seed, fodder and agistment has been launched by the South Australian Farmers Federation to assist the State’s farmers through the present drought.
The register comes in response to an urgent need for farmers to obtain seed for next year’s crops and feed to help them retain breeding stock during the dry conditions. It also serves as a central point of contact between buyers and sellers.
South Australian Farmers Federation website
Phone: 1800 753 277
AgForce Queensland
AgForce has set up a list of available seed suppliers on its website in an effort to help grower’s access non-Plant Breeders Rights registered seed.
Agforce website
Victorian Farmers Federation
The VFF has established a service to facilitate communication between farmers regarding feed needs and availability. Grain or hay for sale and available agistment or cow parking can be advertised on the Victorian Drought Support website, through which feed users can make contact with sellers.Drought Relief Measures
The Australian Government is supporting drought affected farmers and rural communities through income support, interest rate relief and free personal and financial counselling. More information on Australian Government Drought Assistance
State and Territory drought contacts
State and Territory government drought contacts, including contacts to apply for EC Interest Rate Subsidies
Grain Price Update
Daily grain price updates are monitored and published on the Elders Grain website.
Price information relevant to grain futures contracts can be accessed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Grain Futures and Options Market website.
