This is a subscriber-only article
Round bale (4x4) silage is being quoted from €16 to €24 per bale collected, with quantity being a major factor on prices negotiated. Pit silage is being quoted from €20 to €26 per tonne loaded from the yard, again depending on quality, quantity and location.
Round 4X4 bales of hay are ranging in price from €20 to €26 per bale collected from the yard. Small square bales of hay are being quoted around the €3 mark. Large 8x4x3 bales of hay are costing around €40. Round 4x4 bales of haylage are costing from €18 to €22 on average, with small bales costing around €5.
Straw prices are varying around the country, with 8x4x4 bales of wheaten straw being sold at around €40 to €50, while barley straw of the same size bales is making €50 to €55 – but it is difficult to source.
Round 4x4 bales of straw collected are costing in the region of €19 to €24, while small squares are making around €2 to €3.
According to a dairy farmer from Schull in Co Cork: “We’re not slack on feeding, but having to go further to get it. Farmers in this area had to purchase round bales of silage from Bandon, which is about 50 miles away. It’s costing €30 delivered to the yard.”
A straw dealer from Kilkenny reported being busy, with his main market currently being in Kerry, where there is a high demand for straw.
From talking to a number of farmers in the western region, there currently seems to be no shortage of fodder, with one farmer stating: “There’s no more of a shortage than a normal year, but some lads are buying silage. Poor-quality silage collected can be bought as low as €16 per bale, with better quality silage making €20 to €22.”
A farmer from Co Galway told the Irish Farmers Journal: “There’s currently no shortage of fodder in our area, but if it continues to rain there very possibly could be. Straw is very expensive at the moment. It’s costing €30 per bale delivered.”
According to a straw dealer from Co Meath: “Demand for straw has slackened a bit, but the current bad weather is leaving farmers anxious – 8x4x4 square wheaten bales delivered are costing around €45 to €50 per bale. Round bales are very hard to source around here.”
Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed last week announced a 30% reduction in the level of clawback on the sale of Basic Payment Scheme entitlements from 50% to 20%.
The decision made, following a recent consultation between the Department of Agriculture and the Direct Payments Advisory Committee (comprising members of the main farming bodies and agricultural advisory and education providers), relates to the sale of entitlements without land.
The proceeds arising from the implementation of clawback are used to replenish the National Reserve fund, with just €13,000 collected from the sale of entitlements without land in 2016.
The Department of Agriculture reports a total of 10,578 applications for TAMS II. Of these, 6,910 approvals have been granted.
The most popular investments in tranche 4 and tranche 5 are listed in the table with tranche 6 closing on 7 April.
With regards TAMS II payment claims, there have been 1,022 claims submitted with 615 issued by the Department.
After a long wait, the Department has launched a TAMS scheme for tillage farmers.
More details of this scheme are available here and a follow-up of terms and conditions will be featured, once available.
SHARING OPTIONS: