Huge yield losses at harvest have pushed straw prices upwards, particularly in the midlands and west.

In a survey carried out by the Irish Farmers Journal this week, suppliers confirmed the straw scarcity. “It cannot be got,” a Limerick man said.

“I’m charging €25 from my yard (4x4 round), but that’s because I have to draw it over from Carlow. If someone is willing to collect it from Carlow they’ll get it for €18. And, most of the calls I’m getting are from lads in the west.”

Other western sellers tell similar stories. “Yes, it’s up on last year but we’ve had to go further to get it. What’s funny is that the phone has quietened down in the last few weeks. Farmers are refusing to pay for the stuff at these prices and are kicking their straw-sourcing to touch. Things will get interesting in January when sheep join the queue for straw.”

Scarcity

One Co Down farmer remarked that straw was more scarce than in 2010 when snow and ice gripped the country.

“Ours came up from Athy and Carlow, but we’re way back on what we normally get. A fellow not too far from me is 5,000 bales [varying types] short on last year,” he said.

Those including straw in livestock diets can see the nutritional implications of these prices in feed trends.