The recent rain has slowed the straw trade this week. There is still a vast amount of straw on the flat and baled straw stacked in fields across the country.

Straw on the flat is deteriorating, leading to an increase in demand and price for stored straw for feeding. Straw prices remain higher in the west and northwest of the country, with prices in Galway ranging from €12 to €14 for barley 4x4 bales and Longford straw being advertised for €14.

Other areas in the east and the midlands see farmers with stored bales remaining steadfast in their prices, seeking €10 in Louth and Meath for spring barley 4x4 bales. High-quality barley straw is fetching €9 in Laois, Carlow, Wexford and Tipperary, with poorer-quality straw, and bales in fields uncovered, fetching €8 to €8.50.

8x4x3 barley bales are making €18 to €20, with 8x3x3 bales making €13. Wheat straw is making €9 in Carlow and Wexford for 4x4 bales. Oat straw is making €8 to €10 in most areas.

Hay prices remain the same, with €20 per 4x4 bale being traded in the south in counties Kerry, Limerick, Kildare and Laois. Lower prices of €18 to €19 are still being fetched for lower-quality bales or in areas where forage is particularly plentiful, such as Wexford. €22 to €25/4x4 hay bale is being advertised in western regions. Small square bales are making €3.

Silage continues to make €20 to €25 across the country, with later-cut silage and surplus poorer-quality bales making €17 to €18. Regions where stock tends to be housed earlier, such as Leitrim, Longford and Galway, and northern counties of Tyrone and Donegal continue to seek the higher price of €25/4x4 bale.