A difficulty in sourcing some ingredients has seen meal prices harden in the past few weeks. Prices have pushed up from €5 to €25/t, depending on the meal being fed. However, it is important to note that these feed increases have not been seen across the board, with some merchants resisting pressure to push up prices.

While grass growth has steadily increased in the past week, the heavy rain in parts has meant that turnout of the majority of livestock has been further delayed. Merchants are also reporting that, in certain parts, fertiliser sales remain slow, with ground conditions still soft, but it is beginning to move in larger volumes.

Dairy nuts

An 18% dairy nut is generally trading from €280 up to €307/t. This is an increase on two weeks ago when prices were averaging between €275 and €300/t.

Individual quotes have been reported to have risen by as much as €25/t in some parts over the past week. Separate quotes in the southeast have seen quotes of €285/t, €300/t and €305/t by merchants. Up to €10/t can be taken off prices for large orders, according to these merchants.

In the west, quotes of €300/t and €298/t for an 18% dairy nut were reported. Quotes were generally sought for bulk orders for dairy nuts. Moving towards the southwest, quotes rose to a high of €307/t.

Beef nuts

Beef nuts have also seen increases in prices, with merchants reporting very strong demand.

A lot of farmers seem to be opting for the 16% beef nut, according to merchants throughout the country. General quotes are ranging from €260 to €287/t.

Lower protein nuts of 12% to 14% have been quoted between €230 and €265/t, with a large variation in prices evident. Again, prices were generally quoted for larger orders, with small bags often higher priced.

Issues have been reported from both merchants and farmers when it comes to getting feed out to farmers, with backlogs of up to seven days according to some merchants.

Potential drop of €5 to €10/t in fertiliser

Due to the late spring, several merchants that the Irish Farmers Journal talked to highlighted a potential softening on fertiliser prices over the coming weeks.

Merchants have noted that there could be a drop of up to €5 to €10/t in fertiliser quotes. The delayed spring has seen sales of fertiliser way back on where they would normally be at this time of year and it is expected that the overall sales of fertiliser in the spring will be down.