The Dealer was surprised to be told by a Co Kildare hay trader that he had just refused offers of €50 per bale for 100 round 4x4s and €60 each for 10 bales.

The trader explained that he wasn’t in fact holding out for more later in the winter. Instead, he has regular clients for this hay, which he unrolls and rebales as small squares, and he wants to keep what he has for them.

He said he will sell the small squares at €3.50 out of the yard, for these regular customers, or deliver with a charge for transport. At that price he is taking much less than he was offered for the rounds.