The spreading season for manure still has more than 3 weeks to go, which means that the market is busy. Intermediaries are satisfied with the purchase of manure. After all, there are enough plots available on which manure can be applied. But, what does the arable farmer currently earn from the purchase of slurry?
It is difficult to make an average of the prices that arable farmers are paid for spreading pig or cattle slurry. This is because the differences per region can be very large. It is clear that the fertilizer market is currently busy. Most crops are or have been removed from the land, which means that arable farmers now have room to spread manure.
Pig slurry in demand
Pig slurry is currently the most popular among arable farmers, partly because of the phosphate space available. The amounts to be paid for pig manure in the Netherlands vary from €5 to €10 per cubic meter. The highest price can be found in the north of the country, namely around €8 per cubic meter on average. It is not surprising that the price is the highest here. This is mainly due to the longer transport distances.
In the center and south the price is slightly lower, at €7,50 and €7,00 per cubic meter on average respectively. The prices are comparable to this last year. The province of Zeeland is an exception, because in this region sometimes only €2,50 per cubic meter is paid to arable farmers. It should also be noted that the prices of pig slurry are highly dependent on the number of kilos of phosphate.
The supply of cattle slurry is increasing
Although interest among arable farmers in cattle slurry is less than for pig manure, this is increasing slightly now that the supply of cattle slurry is increasing significantly. Dairy farmers usually spread this manure on their own plots, but due to the drought they are reluctant to do so this year. Because this manure is brought onto the market, the prices to be paid for arable farmers increase. This, in combination with the higher organic matter content, convinces some arable farmers.
Arable farmers currently receive approximately an amount between €3 and €6 per cubic meter for cattle slurry. In the north the price is on average around €4 per cubic meter, in the middle around €4,50 and in the south of the Netherlands around €3,50 per cubic meter. Zeeland is also an exception in this market, because in many cases nothing is paid for the spreading of cattle manure.
More attention to contents
What is also striking about manure traders is that more and more arable farmers are actively concerned with the levels in the manure. For example, direct delivery is less often chosen and there is more and more interest in blending. In addition, arable farmers often opt for this option solid fertilizers, due to the higher organic matter content. In that market, demand is currently greater than supply.
Curious about the collection contributions for manure? View them here.
* The prices concern delivery to the headland.