Keen interest in equipment as croppers consider baling out of a risky season

Recent weeks of dry and windy conditions have created some concern that the tide has turned on a late season outcome, although most eyes are on the immediate forecast which shows a promise of some rain.

When the time comes to make a decision, like towards at the end of Canola flowering for instance, producers will be take some comfort knowing that demand for fodder remains high, along with corresponding prices.

Canola on-farm is getting $350 to $400 a tonne in the southern half of the state, while oaten/ wheaten hay is attracting an extra $100 to $150/t on top.

With return on baled crop looking better than failed grain, producers are casting an eye at better equipment, report selling agents at this year's Ag Quip.

For the Kuhn group their new-look large square baler with 60 tonnes of compaction and 25 per cent more bale density yielding 10pc extra capacity, attracted more than tyre kickers, with quotes already prepared for new inquiries.

NSW territory manager Gerard Cusack said there were good, honest inquiries in spite of the season.

"For a lot of inquiries it was about risk mitigation," he said. "With the price for hay where it is and the forward risk of frost or hail, baling a crop is a good investment."

Gerry and Hahn Wallace, from Jadin enterprises at Cowra, said there had been strong interest for their haymaking equipment from producers keen to turn failed crop into cashflow.

Their big bale stacker was particularly eye catching for some, with a need to handle multiple bales of roughage for feedlots and dairies.

For South Australian manufacturer Schinckel Hayrakes at Naracoorte, innovative design and inherent efficiency were reasons why customers came to have a look at Gunnedah.

"We've had good inquiries," reported Simon Schinckel. "The weather's affecting the cereals but there's lots of money in hay with lot feeding in Queensland and northern NSW.

While Mr Schinkel posed with a hay rake which won last year's machine of the year at Henty field days, he says his latest innovation is under raps until Henty again, which opens its gates on September 16.

Mr Schinkel's "Next F Series" has taken conventional thinking and put it out in front, with a vee-shaped rake arrangement that pushes wide windrows of cut hay out of the way from tractor wheels before making it ready for baling.

"You can leave a wider windrow for quicker drying without running over it when baling," he said.