At the beginning of August, it became clear that arable farmers would again this year prefer chopping straw to selling it. Now that the grain harvest in the Netherlands has almost been completed and most of the product is in the shed, the question remains what can be done before that.
The grain harvest is last weekend has largely been completed and this means that arable farmers have often already made their choice whether to sell or chop the straw. Anyone who still wants to sell loose on the land (excluding pressing and transport) will earn €60 to €65 per tonne. The price is approximately the same early August. It is not surprising that the Emmeloord regional exchange still quotes €70 per tonne. The price in Flevoland is always slightly higher, but it does not provide a representative picture of the market.
Sold in large or small bales
When wheat straw is sold in bales, the price is higher. After all, there is more work involved. The regional fair in Goes, sales in small bales result in a price range of €90 to €100 per tonne. In the center of the Netherlands, at the regional fair of Emmeloord, the price is slightly higher. Here €110 to €115 per ton is charged for sales in small bales. However, the highest quotation comes from the stock exchange in Middenmeer. There, sales in small bales are quoted at €120 to €125 per tonne.
The quotation for sales in large bales is usually always slightly lower. At the regional fair in Emmeloord, prices are between €90 and €100 and at Beurs Middenmeer the quotation for large bales does not exceed €75 per tonne. All prices have risen slightly in recent weeks, due to the very limited supply. This is also reflected in the prices livestock farmers pay for straw: €120 per ton (delivered to the farm).
The preference for chopping remains
Although straw prices are higher this year, chopping remains the preferred choice for arable farmers. The main reason for this? Arable farmers cannot (yet) achieve enough margin on selling the straw. The costs of nutrient removal are simply higher than the yield of straw. More and more arable farmers are also experiencing that chopping straw – in combination with compost – is a valuable organic substance. And since more and more arable farmers are paying attention to, among other things levels in manure, this view is not expected to change in the short term.