Coming into May, it was estimated that no more than 40% of the spring cereal area was planted.
Alongside this, it was a long winter on livestock farms, with many still not out at grass. With virtually no straw left in storage, the Irish Farmers Journal estimates that demand for straw next winter will be to the tune of six million standard 4x4 bales.
But how much straw will be produced? In a normal year, 10 bales/acre would be the average. But with delayed planting, this could reduce to 8.5 bales/acre or 22 bales/ha.
Even if the normal 250,000ha of crops were planted, the country would still be left short by half a million bales.
While the overall area sown to spring barley may be up on last year, it seems likely that overall straw production will be down. This will depend on how many hectares transfer to forage crops.
Assuming that 10,000ha normally sown with grain is planted with forage crops and the straw yields 22 bales/ha, this would leave Ireland 720,000 bales short of demand.
As a result, growers are talking about straw prices between €15 and €30 per 4x4 round bale.
Read more
Uphill battle for farmers as weather woes take toll
Template for forage cropping launched
Reader query: Woodchip or straw for winter bedding
Coming into May, it was estimated that no more than 40% of the spring cereal area was planted.
Alongside this, it was a long winter on livestock farms, with many still not out at grass. With virtually no straw left in storage, the Irish Farmers Journal estimates that demand for straw next winter will be to the tune of six million standard 4x4 bales.
But how much straw will be produced? In a normal year, 10 bales/acre would be the average. But with delayed planting, this could reduce to 8.5 bales/acre or 22 bales/ha.
Even if the normal 250,000ha of crops were planted, the country would still be left short by half a million bales.
While the overall area sown to spring barley may be up on last year, it seems likely that overall straw production will be down. This will depend on how many hectares transfer to forage crops.
Assuming that 10,000ha normally sown with grain is planted with forage crops and the straw yields 22 bales/ha, this would leave Ireland 720,000 bales short of demand.
As a result, growers are talking about straw prices between €15 and €30 per 4x4 round bale.
Read more
Uphill battle for farmers as weather woes take toll
Template for forage cropping launched
Reader query: Woodchip or straw for winter bedding
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