Is the weather good enough for the 3rd cut?

The 1st and 2nd cut of grass was of excellent quality for many dairy farmers. The 3rd cut is now thick in some places. We have to wait for a few sunny days to bring in the grass. Some dairy farmers may already take the gamble this week.

It probably won't be ideal harvest weather this week. At least that's how the weather forecasts out. However, a lot of rain is forecast for next week. This means that dairy farmers are currently gauging the availability of contractors and comparing the options against each other. There is hardly any trade in grass. There is some demand for grass from Belgium, but it does not consume large volumes.  

Stable corn silage price 
The trade in silage maize moves into a stable price range at the beginning of July, roughly between €55 and €60 per tonne, free of charge. These prices are expected to hold until the fall. Traders expect that current stocks will be enough to bridge the summer period. Supply is tightening here and there, but there is no living demand. There are few concerns about the new harvest. Given the course of the growing season, this is only logical.

Wheat harvest is about to start
The straw market is approaching a period in which new supply quickly becomes available. The wheat harvest has started in the south of France and the north is likely to follow soon. Arable farmers and contractors in the Netherlands are also preparing for the wheat harvest. Barley threshing has already started in some parts of the Netherlands. However, there are hardly any indications about straw quality.

As the new harvest approaches, forage traders want to get rid of old stocks. This obviously does not happen at dumping prices, but the straw price does tend to go down. Approximately €105 per tonne of straw is paid per tonne (delivered to the farm). In the South of the Netherlands the price is slightly higher.

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