Haymakers and industry experts are lauding the current cropping season as the best in 20 years, however the high yields are unlikely to attract increased returns.

Paddocks across WA are filling with countless rolls of hay while production in Victoria and South Australia is slowly beginning to get underway after late rain sullied what had been an ideal lead up to the season.

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Victorian-based consultant Colin Peace said strong wind had helped dry crops of legume and cereal hay which had allowed production to get underway with all signs pointing to a solid end result.

"We are having a cracker of a season as far as production is concerned," Mr Peace said.

"Although everyone thought it would take a long time for everything to cure, we've had very big bulky crops even though we had decile 10 rainfall for September for most of the south east of Australia. We certainly have some good quality in the bale at last."

Mr Peace said the downside was the high volume would impact overall price per tonne.

"The domestic prices over this side of the country are drifting between $120-$150 per tonne ex-farm in Victoria," Mr Peace said.

"You are able to get better money than that if you have contracts with exporters and you are able to get hay into the top two grades, but growers are finding it increasingly difficult to snag that sort of grade this year."

"Slow growth" possible in Middle Eastern market

Operational manager of WA based exporters Gilmac, Ben Adams, said producers of "top quality" hay could potentially fetch up to $220-$240 per tonne on the export market.

"It's looking like it will be the biggest year for exporters of oat and hay out of Australia," Mr Adams said.

"Growers of mid grade hay can fetch $180 per tonne if they've got a reasonable spread of grades while with the top grades, you're talking $220-$240 per tonne over a six-tonne crop, so they've done pretty good."

Paddocks across Australia are filling up with rolls of hay ( ABC Rural: Anthony Pancia )

Mr Adams said the volume would serve traditional Asian markets well with potential for "slow growth' in new markets like the Middle East.

"Certainly there are changes afoot in the Middle Eastern market, although sea freight is dearer so getting a return on the hay with that market will make any growth slow. But there is potential there," Mr Adams said.

"China certainly has the biggest appetite for hay and things are looking very healthy in Korea at the moment as well."

Contractor happy making hay while sun shines

On the ground in WA's south-west, veteran contractor Murray Tucker said his season to date total was nearing 4,000 bales, with no sign of production slowing anytime soon.

"This has been an excellent year, easily the best I've seen in about 20 years," Mr Tucker said.

"We had rain right up until cropping season and very little since. Cross fingers it'll stay that way for the next couple weeks."

Mr Tucker said farmers were also buoyed by the perfect conditions and while prices may be down.

He said they had been comforted by the fact it could be stored for future use.

"They're all eyeing new storage sheds," Mr Tucker said.

"I think they're all happy to wear the lower prices paid for the peace of mind of being able to store some for the next couple of months."