Some silage cuts are still being made across the country, with some just finished second cuts after saving massive first cuts. Others are baling surplus grass on strong paddocks.
The recent turn in weather has raised straw demand slightly across the country. In east Cork, large stacks of stored bales are being reported in fields, highlighting the low demand for straw in the area.
Farmers are purchasing the minimal rather than maximal amount of straw to cover bedding requirements mainly and not buying any surplus.
There is a large amount of straw on the flat in most counties, with the amount due to increase as winter wheat and spring crops are harvested. This may increase demand for early baled straw as quality deteriorates with the continuing rain spells.
Straw prices in Cork, Tipperary and Wexford remain in the €8 to €10/4x4 bale region. Most farmers are making to order, leaving straw on the flat until customers call, or selling straw on the flat for farmers to bale themselves.
Farmers continue to chop straw in some areas with continued chopping forecast for the incoming spring crop harvest.
In Carlow and Louth, barley straw is making €10/4x4 bale, with €11 being advertised in Offaly. Wheaten straw is making €10/4x4 bale. 8x4x3 barley bales are making €20 to €22 in Kildare and Cork, with Meath advertising €13 for 7x3x3 oat straw.
Hay prices for 4x4 bales remain at €20 in Offaly, Louth, Cork, Cavan and Galway. In Laois, Kilkenny and Kildare, hay is being sold for €15 to €18, with Wexford farmers trading 4x4 bales at €17/bale on average. Small square hay bales are making €2, with some getting €2.50 to €3 for high-quality bales.
Silage bales are continuing to make €20 to €21 in most areas, with lower-quality and later-cut bales fetching €17. Some farmers in Leitrim, Down and Monaghan are advertising bales for €23.
Instead of cutting, some farmers are now selling grass per acre for customers to cut and bale themselves, as storage space runs out and the cost of baling and wrapping is uneconomical due to the low demand.
Wool prices hold steady
The wool trade is holding steady with merchants active to keep volumes traded up. Prices range in general from €1.20/kg to €1.30/kg with some smaller merchants purchasing at €1.15/kg.
Wool buyers report slow sales of wool from hill farms with prices for Scottish Blackface wool ranging from 30c to 50c/kg, depending on quality.
Merchants are advising sellers to separate and pack Scotch and crossbred wool separately. The reasoning is that higher demand for crossbred wool with good quality wool capable of selling from 80c/kg to the equivalent price of lowland wool depending on breed.
There are greater numbers of store and ewe lambs being shorn.
Many farmers are opting down this route over treating lambs with subsequent blowfly treatments.
Prices being charged range from €1.20 to €1.50 per lamb with deals reported back to €1 for very large lots.
BDP data recording
Farmers weaning calves under the Beef Data Programme (BDP) are encouraged to submit information online. Hardcopy application forms will not be circulated to farmers until October.
Data can be submitted on the ICBF database (www.icbf.com) or through farm software packages. Herd owners who have difficulty accessing their ICBF account can contact ICBF’s animal events line on 1850-625626.
The required data recorded under the scheme is listed below. Data can be recorded once animals are five months of age. Farmers who do not have access to online facilities do not need to panic, as data can be submitted retrospectively, in hardcopy or online format, for animals that already moved off farm. Payment under the scheme will not take place until early in 2015.
The quality and docility of each calf.The milking ability and docility of each dam. For any stock bulls used, relevant animal events must be recorded, i.e. bull docility and functionality
Some silage cuts are still being made across the country, with some just finished second cuts after saving massive first cuts. Others are baling surplus grass on strong paddocks.
The recent turn in weather has raised straw demand slightly across the country. In east Cork, large stacks of stored bales are being reported in fields, highlighting the low demand for straw in the area.
Farmers are purchasing the minimal rather than maximal amount of straw to cover bedding requirements mainly and not buying any surplus.
There is a large amount of straw on the flat in most counties, with the amount due to increase as winter wheat and spring crops are harvested. This may increase demand for early baled straw as quality deteriorates with the continuing rain spells.
Straw prices in Cork, Tipperary and Wexford remain in the €8 to €10/4x4 bale region. Most farmers are making to order, leaving straw on the flat until customers call, or selling straw on the flat for farmers to bale themselves.
Farmers continue to chop straw in some areas with continued chopping forecast for the incoming spring crop harvest.
In Carlow and Louth, barley straw is making €10/4x4 bale, with €11 being advertised in Offaly. Wheaten straw is making €10/4x4 bale. 8x4x3 barley bales are making €20 to €22 in Kildare and Cork, with Meath advertising €13 for 7x3x3 oat straw.
Hay prices for 4x4 bales remain at €20 in Offaly, Louth, Cork, Cavan and Galway. In Laois, Kilkenny and Kildare, hay is being sold for €15 to €18, with Wexford farmers trading 4x4 bales at €17/bale on average. Small square hay bales are making €2, with some getting €2.50 to €3 for high-quality bales.
Silage bales are continuing to make €20 to €21 in most areas, with lower-quality and later-cut bales fetching €17. Some farmers in Leitrim, Down and Monaghan are advertising bales for €23.
Instead of cutting, some farmers are now selling grass per acre for customers to cut and bale themselves, as storage space runs out and the cost of baling and wrapping is uneconomical due to the low demand.
Wool prices hold steady
The wool trade is holding steady with merchants active to keep volumes traded up. Prices range in general from €1.20/kg to €1.30/kg with some smaller merchants purchasing at €1.15/kg.
Wool buyers report slow sales of wool from hill farms with prices for Scottish Blackface wool ranging from 30c to 50c/kg, depending on quality.
Merchants are advising sellers to separate and pack Scotch and crossbred wool separately. The reasoning is that higher demand for crossbred wool with good quality wool capable of selling from 80c/kg to the equivalent price of lowland wool depending on breed.
There are greater numbers of store and ewe lambs being shorn.
Many farmers are opting down this route over treating lambs with subsequent blowfly treatments.
Prices being charged range from €1.20 to €1.50 per lamb with deals reported back to €1 for very large lots.
BDP data recording
Farmers weaning calves under the Beef Data Programme (BDP) are encouraged to submit information online. Hardcopy application forms will not be circulated to farmers until October.
Data can be submitted on the ICBF database (www.icbf.com) or through farm software packages. Herd owners who have difficulty accessing their ICBF account can contact ICBF’s animal events line on 1850-625626.
The required data recorded under the scheme is listed below. Data can be recorded once animals are five months of age. Farmers who do not have access to online facilities do not need to panic, as data can be submitted retrospectively, in hardcopy or online format, for animals that already moved off farm. Payment under the scheme will not take place until early in 2015.
The quality and docility of each calf.The milking ability and docility of each dam. For any stock bulls used, relevant animal events must be recorded, i.e. bull docility and functionality 
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