Parched region faces hay shortage

There is a growing shortage of hay in Victoria's western district as farmers continue to await rain.

An agronomist in the Lake Bolac region, Craig Drum, says farmers with both sheep and crops are having to use their own hay as feed rather than selling the surplus.

He says the price of hay also remains high as demand grows.

"Lack of rain and there is just literally no feed in the paddocks," he said.

"Look, we always are short on feed this time of year, whether you're in the dairy country down south or up here in the broadacre, mixed cropping situation ... a dry autumn is not all that unusual but to have only had 30 odd mills for the first four months and under a 100 mills for the last six months is very, very rare in the so-called high rainfall zone."