There is as much as €12/bale difference in what farmers are paying for straw across the country, the Irish Farmers Journal can reveal.

A large variation in prices has been seen in prices from a survey carried out this week. Round 4x4 bales currently range from €10/bale in Wexford to €17/bale in Donegal.

The east and south remain the cheapest places to purchase straw, with an average price quoted of €12/bale. On the other hand, the west and northwest remain the most expensive, with an average price of €15.50/bale.

The price for a 4x4 round bale sold out of the field in Tipperary is averaging €14, while straw in Laois is generally making €12/bale. Prices in Kilkenny were similar, with an average of €13 quoted. Prices in Louth remained strong at €15/bale, with a strong number of bales going to farmers in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath. All prices quoted are from the field.

The cost of delivery of bales across the country depends on the length of the draw and can range anywhere from €5 to €15/bale.

In Cork, the general consensus from farmers is that straw seems very plentiful. However, there is still a strong demand. Prices generally ranged from €11 to €14/bale.

In Galway, 4x4 round bales are coming in at €15 to €17/bale. Going towards Roscommon, bales are reaching up to €20 in places.

Larger 8x4x4 bales are averaging around €32/bale out of the field, with some bales reaching prices as high as €40/bale in northern parts of the country.

Quotes average at €25/bale for 8x4x3 bales, but again variation has been seen on prices, depending on location. Highs of €32/bale have been noted in some parts of the country.

Silage and hay prices

From talking to farmers around the country, it is clear that hay is very plentiful compared with last year due to the good weather so far in 2017.

Round bales are ranging from €18 in the Waterford/Wexford area up to €30/bale quoted in Cavan.

The average price of a round bale of hay looks to be somewhere in the region of €23.50/bale. Prices in Kerry, Louth and Carlow are quite similar for a bale of hay, with prices ranging from €19 to €21.

Demand remains high for small square bales, with prices generally ranging from €2 to €3/bale, with €4/bale reported for really high-quality hay.

Silage is also plentiful around the country, with a smaller range in price being noted, with €16/bale quoted in Westmeath being the cheapest and Mayo being quoted as the highest price for silage with €25/bale.

The average price of a bale of silage is around €20/bale. In Donegal, prices are generally coming in at €17 to €18/bale. Elsewhere in the northwest, in Sligo, €20/bale was quoted.

In Cork, prices are generally ranging from €17 to €20/bale, largely depending on bale size and quality. Prices quoted for both hay and silage are excluding delivery.

Shop around for best weanling meal prices

As weanling sales kick off in earnest throughout the country over the next few weeks, many farmers are beginning to feed meal to weanlings.

A survey of merchants and co-ops by the Irish Farmers Journal highlights that there is as much as an €82/t difference in what farmers are paying for weanling crunch.

The standard crunch being offered by merchants contained between 15% and 17% crude protein.

The cheapest price quoted came in the east at €238/t, while the most expensive price came in Donegal with €300/t quoted. There is a price differential between the cheapest and most expensive quotes of over €50/t. It is also worth noting that rations purchased in bulk over 25kg bagged form are generally €10 to €20 cheaper.

On average, the price of weanling crunch was quoted at €268/t across Ireland.

Crunch

As is often the case, Connacht turned out to be the most expensive province to purchase weanling crunch, with an average price quoted at €285/t.

Leinster is quoted as the cheapest place to purchase weanling crunch at €238/t. Similar to other agricultural inputs, the higher transport costs are to blame for the increased costs.

Ingredients in weanling crunch can vary, but a typical ration should contain high levels of cereals, such as rolled barley, maize and wheat. The ration should also contain high-quality protein, such as soya bean, maize gluten and distillers grain.