Second cuts of silage, as well as meadows cut for hay, are giving relatively good yields of fodder, according to some contractors.

This is making up for first-cuts and early hay crops, which were typically back in yield by a third on last year.

Contractors report yields of about eight silage bales per acre where a dairy farmer is taking high-quality, leafy grass. In other cases, where grass has been allowed bulk up in the recent rain, yields are up to 14 bales per acre.

There was a lot of silage and haylage made over the past week and lesser amounts of hay.

This is making up for first-cuts and early hay crops, which were typically back in yield by a third on last year

The rain and good growth, along with stocks left over from last year’s big crops, have eased concerns about fodder supply for the winter. Hay meadows, which were prevented from been mowed under the Green Low-carbon Agri-Environmental Scheme (GLAS), performed well in particular.

This is also reflected in prices, with farmers selling hay bales from their fields generally quoting in the range of €22 to €25 per bale, depending on how quickly they want fields cleared or what sheds they have available etc, with some quotes up to €30 where there’s no rush to sell.

Prices being asked for haylage are in the range of €25 to €35, depending on the quality of the sward etc.

Silage bales are being quoted anywhere from €15 to €30, depending again on quality and how much a farmer needs cashflow.