The past week has seen a lot more action in the straw market.

A lot of the straw that was lying in fields has been baled up and there are noticeably more loads of straw on the roads.

There has been little change in prices. In tillage areas of Leinster and Munster, barley straw in 4x4ft bales is typically selling from the field in the range of €14 to €16, wheat straw in 4x4ft bales at €10 to €13 and oaten at €13 to €14.

The switch to big square bales continues due to lower transport costs.

Wholesalers

The popular 8x4x3ft squares are selling at €35 but as low as €32 for wholesalers buying multiple loads.

Tillage farmers in Donegal report selling at €20 per round bale of barley straw from the field. In non-tillage areas, livestock farmers report straw delivered in at €25 to €30 per round bale.

Contractors are making good progress on baling wheaten straw for composting. Again, yields are reported to be well down, as was the case with barley straw, in cases down by half.

Good fields are giving 2.5 to 3.5 big square 8x4x4ft bales per acre compared to a hoped for four to five.

Prices for these big square bales are €22 to €23 each with payment generally made when the reek is taken or soon after.