South Australian hay grower Robyn Faulkner with her family.

HAY growers from Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia will take viewers into their paddocks during a live virtual farm walk on Wednesday, 12 August.

The free Top of the Stack webinar, starting at 11.30am, will feature live interviews from three working farms as part of the announcement of the 2026 Feed Central National Hay Quality Awards.

Rather than simply presenting the award results, the growers will talk openly about the season, the decisions they made, what worked, what didn’t and what they would do differently next time.

The webinar will feature:

Jake and Sam Thompson.

 Jake Thompson, who farms with his brother Sam at Wyuna in northern Victoria. Jake has previously won state and national awards for lucerne hay and is again in the running this year.

 Robyn Faulkner from Renklauf Trading at Mintaro, South Australia. She is a finalist in the cereal hay visual category and will discuss the seasonal conditions and practical decisions shaping this year’s hay production.

 Mark Burkinshaw, a previous award-winning vetch grower from Lockhart, New South Wales, who will join the webinar live from his vetch paddock.

Feed Central’s Steve Page will interview the growers from their farms.

“We want it to feel like joining these growers for a farm walk,” Steve said.

“People will see what is happening on the ground and hear directly from the growers who have been making the decisions and doing the work.

“They’ll talk honestly about what worked, what didn’t and what they have learned from the season.”

Mark Burkinshaw

National and state winners of the Feed Central National Hay Quality Awards will be announced during the webinar. Awards cover the visual quality and feed-test results of Australia’s three major hay types: vetch, lucerne and cereal hay.

The program will also give growers an update on where the hay market is heading.

JT Johnson & Sons international marketing manager Corey Ryan will discuss developments in the global export hay market and what they may mean for Australian growers.

David Clothier from Feed Central Trading will provide an update on domestic supply, demand, pricing and buyer activity, along with the key trends growers should watch during the coming season.

The webinar will also explain how feed testing and independent quality assurance can help growers better understand, present and market their hay.

Top of the Stack will be held live from 11.30am on Wednesday, 12 August.

Growers can register to watch live or receive a recording by clicking here.