DECENT rain accompanied by growth in cereal and pasture crops means this could be the opportunity to make hay and silage.
While demand is not at the high levels like it was during the recent drought period, the opportunity to make fodder and store it on farm is one that many people are considering.
In fact, some are considering adding additional storage options to their farm in a bid to store this season's fodder.
Agronomist and Australian Fodder Industry Association (AFIA) chairman Frank McRae said the season across southern NSW and throughout the Riverina was good.
He said domestic demand for hay had dropped off but producers were looking to replenish on-farm supplies.
The fact that a lot of hay was sold in recent times means there are empty hay sheds or silage pits that offer an opportunity to build up supply.
Mr McRae said hay and fodder prices were sitting at about half what they were during the peak of the drought.
"I certainly think we are going to see a lot of pit silage," he said.
Mr McRae said crops and pastures in general were looking good on the back of decent rain this month.
He said, it was certainly getting "wet under foot" which was a reprieve from droughts which were still clear in people's memory.
AFIA industry development officer, Pip Robinson said one of the clear aspects being reported to her was the fact that the season was good.
"Even Bega, that was severely dry, has had 400 millimetres of rain," Mrs Robinson said.
Mrs Robinson agreed with Mr McRae and said there wasn't high demand at the moment but with that came opportunity to store fodder on farm.
She said buyers were certainly educated and they would be seeking the best quality hay with good protein levels.
"There are opportunities to store hay or put it in pits, if you have the room to do so," she said.
"People have learned a lot from the drought."
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Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
