Ration price update: Poor demand for straw, hay and silage continues

Straw

As the harvest progresses slowly, the supply of straw continues to increase, although demand remains very poor in the main.

Square bales of 8x4x3 are selling off the field at €16 to €17/bale, with reports of farmers accepting prices as low as €14 for poorer-quality higher-moisture bales.

Big 8x4x4s continue to be quoted at €30/bale, although deals are reportedly being done for less.

The niche market for small square bales remains strong, with bales selling at €1.80 to €2.00.

Straw is being bought for as low as €40/acre on the flat, and reports suggest more farmers are opting to chop their straw rather than sell at the lower prices.

Hay

Good-quality June hay sells well, as this week’s wet weather sees an end to the hay-making rush.

Horse hay remains at €25/bale, with lesser-quality bales from old meadows selling for as low as €17.

Small square bales continue to sell between €2.50 and €3/bale.

Silage

Demand for silage remains low, with bales selling slowly from €15 to €18/bale, with lower prices being paid for poorer-quality bales. There have been fewer deals made for standing crops due to the poor silage-making weather. Where deals have been made, in most cases it has been in the buyer’s favour. Farmers with standing crops are selling at prices as low as €35/acre, with good-quality crops making a €5/acre premium.

Straight feeds

Rolled barley can be bought from €185/t this week, with rolled oats selling at €195/t and rolled wheat coming in at €200/t.

Soyabean is currently trading at €380/t, with rapeseed being bought at €270/t to €280/t and maize meal selling for €200/t to €210/t.

Wool prices - by Peter Varley

Some wool merchants are reluctant to quote prices at the moment and are taking the wait and see approach. According to Vincent Pierce from Laurence Pierce Wool Merchants, Chinese buyers are offering them 20% less for wool compared with the start of the year. “Since June, the dollar is down 10%, which also knocks a further 15p/kg off the price of wool,” said Vincent. He is holding out to see if there will be an improvement before accepting the lower offers. He said if he was to take the current lower price, he would only be able to pay farmers 125c/kg for lowland wool. According to Vincent, 75% of his customers have their wool sold already and commented that this year the season was late starting, but when it did start, wool came in a torrent.