If there’s one thing I’ve learned after watching a paddock turn from lush green to crackling brown in what feels like a single hot week, it’s this: hay isn’t just feed. It’s peace of mind. It’s that soft, scratchy promise sitting in your shed that tells you, "You’re covered, mate."

I still remember the summer of 2019. The smoke never seemed to leave the sky. The co-op down the road in Clare ran out of hay by mid-December, and trucks were coming in from as far as Hamilton and Horsham, carrying bales priced like gold. People were queuing up at dawn, hoping to grab a load before it vanished. Prices doubled overnight.

I had a few stacks left because I’d overbought the year before. Back then, it felt like wasted money sitting there collecting dust. That year, it felt like foresight.

And now, in 2025, I can feel that same quiet tension building again. The talk at the stock agent’s office is all about how the Bureau’s expecting another patchy season. Rain here and there, but not enough in the right places. Maybe another El Niño is hanging around longer than anyone wants.

So, why should you secure hay for 2026 now? Because in Australia, seasons change faster than a paddock dries out after a storm. You can’t wait for the clouds to decide your feed plan.

The Illusion of "Next Season"

It’s funny how we talk about “next season” as if it’s guaranteed. Every farmer from Dubbo to Deniliquin has said it: “Next season’ll be better.” Sometimes we say it because we believe it. Sometimes because we need to.

But the weather doesn’t care about our optimism. The rain doesn’t read the BOM app. I’ve had years where we thought we’d get a late break, and instead the clouds just rolled past like they had better things to do.

Planning hay ahead isn’t about paranoia. It’s about accepting what we can and can’t control. We can’t call the rain, but we can call the hay supplier before everyone else does.

When Good Feed Turns Scarce

When the ground goes bare, it doesn’t happen slowly. One week there’s enough grass to keep everyone calm, and the next you’re kicking dust and staring at empty paddocks. Then everyone’s on the phone.

You can almost set your watch by it. Prices jump, trucks book out, and quality drops fast. I’ve seen bales from up north that looked alright on the outside but turned to powder inside.

The people who stocked early? They’re not the ones driving five hours to pick up whatever’s left in someone’s back paddock. They’re not lining up at dawn outside the feed store in Tamworth or Wagga hoping another truckload comes in.

That’s the quiet reward of early planning. While others are panicking, you’re sleeping fine.

The Money Side (And Why It’s Not Just About Profit)

Let’s be honest. Hay’s never cheap. But panic-buying during a dry spell hurts in a special kind of way.

A mate of mine out near Young told me he once paid $520 a tonne during the 2020 drought because he waited too long. He said, “Never again.” Now he books his hay in March every year, even if it means juggling other costs. He reckons it’s not about saving money anymore. It’s about saving sanity.

And he’s right. When you’ve got hay stacked high before the trouble starts, you make better choices. You don’t sell stock too soon. You don’t lie awake doing mental math at 2 a.m. You don’t find yourself haggling with truckies over bales that aren’t even worth it.

That kind of security? Worth every dollar.

Hay as Insurance (The Kind That Smells Better)

Hay’s a form of insurance - the kind you can actually touch, stack, and smell. No contracts, no fine print. Just a shed full of quiet reassurance.

When you’ve got a few hundred bales tucked away, you walk lighter. You know that if the skies turn cruel, your animals won’t feel it first.

An old bloke from Bordertown once told me, “Hay’s like money in the bank, only it keeps your cattle alive instead of your accountant.” He wasn’t wrong.

Weather’s Changing. Habits Should Too.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: Australia’s weather isn’t what it used to be.

Rain comes in bursts now, not in seasons. Winters don’t feel like winters anymore. And those mild, forgiving autumns? They’re getting shorter.

You can see it in the grass growth, in the hay yields, even in the moisture of the bales. What used to be “average” isn’t average anymore.

That’s why securing hay early isn’t just smart. It’s necessary. Build a relationship with a local grower - maybe someone in the Mallee or down around the Western Districts. Lock in a deal while the grass is still thick and the trucks aren’t yet booked out.

The old handshake method still works better than any contract when it comes to trust in this business.

It’s Not Just for Big Farmers

This isn’t just about the big operations. If you’ve got a handful of horses, a few alpacas, or a small mob of cattle, it still matters.

I know a woman near Armidale with a dozen rescue horses. In 2022, she ran out of hay before Christmas and couldn’t get more until February. The stuff she did find cost triple and fell apart when handled.

Now she orders a year ahead, splits delivery into two drops, and never worries again. It’s not fancy planning. It’s just smart.

Whether you’re in Gippsland or the Riverina, the principle’s the same. Secure early, breathe easy later.

The Emotional Toll No One Talks About

Let’s talk about the part that doesn’t get mentioned in ag reports - the emotional toll.

There’s nothing worse than watching your stock go hungry while you wait for feed that might not come. It eats at you. You start second-guessing every decision, even the good ones.

I’ve seen proud farmers in the Barossa and the Darling Downs break down over empty paddocks. Not because they weren’t tough enough, but because they cared too much.

Having hay ready doesn’t just feed your animals. It feeds your sense of control, your hope, your calm. It tells you that whatever happens - heat, fire, flood - you’ve done what you could.

So, What Now?

If your shed’s already half full, you’re ahead. If not, it’s time to start. Call your supplier. Talk to a local grower. Ask around at the saleyards or the co-op.

Prices look steady now, but that never lasts. You don’t need to fill the shed tomorrow. Just start locking some in for next year.

And while you’re at it, check your storage. Fix the roof, clear out the corners, get it dry and ready. Nothing hurts more than losing good hay to leaks or mould.

Small steps now will save you big headaches later.

The Quiet Kind of Wisdom

My grandfather used to say, "You can’t outsmart the weather, but you can outprepare it." Back then, I thought he was just talking to fill the silence on long tractor days. Turns out, he was right.

Securing hay for 2026 isn’t just about money or convenience. It’s about respect - for your land, your animals, and your own peace of mind.

Because when the paddocks fade and the sky turns stingy, it won’t be luck that keeps you steady. It’ll be those heavy, golden bales you stacked months ago, waiting like old mates who never let you down.

And that’s the kind of insurance that smells like summer, not paperwork.