Straw sales represents a vital component of the revenue of Irish tillage farmers. Between 2014 and 2018, tillage farmers produced an estimated 1.12 million tonnes of straw annually.
The figures come from a report published last month by Tillage Industry Ireland, which attempted to show the economic contribution of the tillage sector.
The ex-farm value of straw sales was estimated at €70m per annum during 2014 to 2018 (see Table 1 below). Approximately 93% of cereal straw and 25% of oilseed rape straw is baled rather than chopped.
2020 harvest
Straw supply this season is expected to be significantly back when compared with the referenced period for this report.
Growers are reporting reductions in straw yields by as much as 50% in winter barley crops. Winter oats yields are also back by as much as 30% in places.
Coupled with a reduced winter crop area, new-season straw supply is expected to be tight. However, so far, demand remains variable, as some livestock farmers are carrying over supplies from last year.
Table 1: Estimated supply and use of baled straw (annual average 2014-2018)
Sources: production data from CSO and Teagasc (2016b), trade data from Eurostat, use data from industry consultation. Figures are estimates and should be interpreted as approximate magnitudes only.
Markets
Livestock farms requiring straw for bedding (barley, wheat, oat straw) and feed (especially spring barley straw) represented the most significant market at around one million tonnes annually.
Approximately 100,000t of wheat and rape straw were purchased annually by the mushroom compost sector.
The composting industry, with an estimated output of 50m tonnes of compost per annum, has provided a valuable source of demand, especially for wheat and rape straw.
Other uses of straw such as biomass for energy (for example in grain drying) appeared limited. Approximately 11,000t of straw per annum was imported from the UK during that period.
Read more
Green grains a challenge for malting barley
Tillage Management: disappointing harvest aggravated by broken weather
Early purchase of straw can cut costs
Never want to lose a bale again? – there's an app for that
Straw sales represents a vital component of the revenue of Irish tillage farmers. Between 2014 and 2018, tillage farmers produced an estimated 1.12 million tonnes of straw annually.
The figures come from a report published last month by Tillage Industry Ireland, which attempted to show the economic contribution of the tillage sector.
The ex-farm value of straw sales was estimated at €70m per annum during 2014 to 2018 (see Table 1 below). Approximately 93% of cereal straw and 25% of oilseed rape straw is baled rather than chopped.
2020 harvest
Straw supply this season is expected to be significantly back when compared with the referenced period for this report.
Growers are reporting reductions in straw yields by as much as 50% in winter barley crops. Winter oats yields are also back by as much as 30% in places.
Coupled with a reduced winter crop area, new-season straw supply is expected to be tight. However, so far, demand remains variable, as some livestock farmers are carrying over supplies from last year.
Table 1: Estimated supply and use of baled straw (annual average 2014-2018)
Sources: production data from CSO and Teagasc (2016b), trade data from Eurostat, use data from industry consultation. Figures are estimates and should be interpreted as approximate magnitudes only.
Markets
Livestock farms requiring straw for bedding (barley, wheat, oat straw) and feed (especially spring barley straw) represented the most significant market at around one million tonnes annually.
Approximately 100,000t of wheat and rape straw were purchased annually by the mushroom compost sector.
The composting industry, with an estimated output of 50m tonnes of compost per annum, has provided a valuable source of demand, especially for wheat and rape straw.
Other uses of straw such as biomass for energy (for example in grain drying) appeared limited. Approximately 11,000t of straw per annum was imported from the UK during that period.
Read more
Green grains a challenge for malting barley
Tillage Management: disappointing harvest aggravated by broken weather
Early purchase of straw can cut costs
Never want to lose a bale again? – there's an app for that
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