30th March 2026 · 6 min read · For Farmers

Hay Contracting Rates in Australia: What Farmers Are Paying in 2026

If you are budgeting for hay this autumn, you have probably already noticed quotes coming in higher than last season. You are not imagining it. Between the fuel crisis that hit in early March and the usual seasonal pressures, hay contracting rates across NSW and QLD have moved. Knowing what is reasonable before you pick up the phone saves time and avoids an awkward conversation on the side of the paddock.

This guide covers what contractors typically charge for cutting, raking, and baling across different hay types, what is driving rates up in 2026, and what you can do to get a fair price without damaging a working relationship.

What Goes Into a Hay Contracting Quote

Most hay contractors charge separately for each pass. Mowing, raking, and baling are usually quoted as individual line items. Some will bundle the whole job for a flat per-bale or per-hectare rate, especially for regular clients, but that is less common on a first job.

Transport costs are often separate too. If your contractor is driving more than an hour to reach you, expect a call-out fee or a higher hourly rate to cover the run. That is fair practice, and asking upfront means no surprises on the invoice.

Hay Contracting Rates in Australia (2026 Season)

The table below shows the official AACA (Australian Agricultural Contracting Association) 2025-26 suggested rates alongside estimated 2026 market rates. The AACA figures are the industry baseline, published when diesel was sitting around 165c/L. With pump prices now roughly double that following the Strait of Hormuz disruption in March, actual quotes will sit above those numbers. Use the 2026 estimated column as your planning figure.

Baseline source: AACA 2025-26 Suggested Rates (agcontracting.org.au). 2026 market rates are estimates based on current diesel pricing of ~295c/L vs AACA baseline of ~165c/L. All rates exclude GST.

Why 2026 Rates Are Higher Than Last Season

Diesel prices are the main driver. In the three weeks following the Strait of Hormuz disruption in early March, Melbourne terminal gate diesel prices rose from 165.6 cents per litre to 295.1 cents per litre. That is a 78% increase in 21 days.

For a hay contractor running a mower, rake, and baler across a 200-hectare job, fuel is not a minor input. Machines running 10-hour days burn significant volumes of diesel. When pump prices roughly double, that cost has to go somewhere.

Adding to the pressure, agricultural contractors are not classified as essential diesel users under the current emergency framework. That means they do not have priority access to limited supplies, and some regions are experiencing genuine supply constraints. Several operators in WA have reported partial or cancelled fuel deliveries.

The practical result for farmers is this: any quote you receive right now will likely include either a fuel surcharge line item or a higher base rate that already accounts for it. Industry transport rates have moved 7.5 to 10 percent since mid-March. A quote that reflects the current diesel price is not opportunistic pricing. It is the cost of running heavy equipment in March 2026.

For more context on how fuel and equipment costs affect contractor pricing, see the contractor revenue guide on AgPages.

What Affects the Rate You Will Be Quoted

Beyond the fuel factor, a few variables will move your quote up or down.

• Paddock size and shape. Contractors price efficiency. A 50-hectare flat rectangular block gets a better rate than five 10-hectare paddocks broken up by trees and water points. If you can consolidate your work into fewer, bigger runs, say so.
• Pasture type and density. Dense legume hays like lucerne put more load on cutting and conditioning equipment than lighter grasses. If your crop is heavy, your contractor knows it.
• Timing and notice. Calling a contractor the week you want to cut is harder than calling four weeks out. Good operators book up in autumn. If you are flexible on timing, that is worth mentioning — it may be worth a few dollars a hectare.
• Distance from the contractor's base. NSW and QLD are large. An operator based near Narrabri is not going to price the same for a Tamworth job as a Goondiwindi job. Factor in reasonable travel costs when comparing quotes from different areas.
• Relationship and volume. Regular clients and large volumes generally get better rates. If you are a new client or a one-off job, you are paying market rate. That is reasonable.

How to Get a Fair Quote

Get two or three quotes before committing. Not to play contractors off against each other, but to understand what the going rate actually is in your area this season. Rates vary more by region than most farmers realise, and a quick set of calls tells you a lot.

Be specific about what you need: hectares, pasture type, preferred bale format, and preferred timing. Vague requests get vague quotes.

Ask whether the rate includes fuel or whether a surcharge applies. Given the current situation, this is a sensible question and any decent contractor will answer it plainly.

If you are struggling to find available contractors in your area, post your job on AgPages and let operators come to you. It takes about two minutes and it gets your requirements in front of contractors who are looking for work in your region.

What to Expect This Autumn

Hay season across northern NSW and southern QLD typically ramps up in March and April as summer crop country transitions. It is also one of the busier periods for silage ahead of winter feed planning on properties running cattle and sheep.

With fuel costs elevated and contractor availability tighter in some areas due to supply constraints, booking ahead matters more than usual this season. If you know you will need hay work done in April or May, the conversation is worth having now.

Before you call, it is also worth reading how to vet harvest contractors so you know what to look for beyond the rate.