As the harvest moves into its final phase, straw is now really starting to move. Barley acreage is back, straw yields are down by between 10% and 20% on last year. This has reduced availability, leaving users scrambling to secure supplies.

Earlier in the year it looked like demand for straw would be minimal, but bad weather hindered hay saving and farmers are trying to secure other sources of fodder. Straw users seem to want to fill their sheds at harvest this year and some have already ordered barley straw for later in the year.

Straw has been moving steadily from fields in Wicklow, but a lot of wheaten straw has been chopped due to uncertainty in that market.

In parts of Waterford, price may have dropped by a euro or so in some areas but demand is high and price is steady. Farmers in livestock concentrated areas are finding it difficult to source straw.

In Laois, 4x4 round bales are selling for €11-€12. Farmers there have no difficulty getting €12 per bale. Oaten straw is going for €1-2 less, with demand being good as farmers see it as a high-quality feed.

Demand is also strong in Tipperary. Most sales are local and farmers are only buying what they need now. 4x4 round bales are averaging €11-€12/bale, with little being sold at €10.

In north Cork, harvesting of spring barley is due to start this week. Winter barley straw is now scarce, with farmers taking orders for spring barley straw. Demand is always good for spring barley straw and it is expected to reach €12-€13/bale. Wheaten straw sales seem to have slowed, as purchasing for diet feeder use happened earlier in the season. Remaining wheaten straw is expected to be used for bedding at about €10/bale. Sales will continue late into the season, with farmers hoping for better deals later, but this might not be the year for that.

In Westmeath, winter barley straw is nearly all sold. Spring barley straw is now at €13/4x4, up €1 on last week. Winter barley straw sales have slowed as buyers switch to spring barley straw and this has lowered winter barley straw by about €1/bale. Demand is high and farmers are worried that the wet weather may prevent the saving of the remaining spring barley straw.

In intensive tillage areas such as Carlow and Wexford, €10/bale is the average price for 4x4 bale of winter barley straw and virtually all of the winter barley straw is now spoken for.

Harvest problems continue in Donegal. Some fields of spring barley were whole-cropped following lodging by heavy rain. Winter barley remains to be harvested. Fields of oaten straw have been chopped because it is very difficult to dry again once it gets wet. Up north farmers believe it to be the worst year for harvesting in a long time.