Early trading of straw for the 2025 harvest is brisk, with winter barley straw on the move across the country.
As always, prices vary depending on location, with the strongest prices for crops in the west of the country.
While the southeast lags behind other parts of the country, both in terms of demand and price, sellers seem determined to set prices reflecting strong demand. In Wexford, 4x4 round bales are starting from €20.
Rising
This base price rises to €27 in Laois and Kildare. Tipperary farmers are reporting €35 for round bales, with similar prices in Galway and Limerick.
“I don’t plan on dropping my straw price from last year’s €30 per round bale of barley straw collected in the field,” said Waterford tillage farmer Padraig Connery.
“We baled 1,000 bales in the last few days and all were gone from the fields within 48 hours of baling. Bad enough to have a falling grain price to try and deal with.”
Roscommon farmer Michael McGonigle told the Irish Farmers Journal hay and straw survey that he bought straw 4x4 round bales for €27 in Athy, Co Kildare, and it cost €3.50/bale to transport it to Boyle. He also said he paid €40/bale for hay.
SHARING OPTIONS