The DCA Indicative Price for straw and brewers grains are taking a step up in price this week. In addition, Eurofins is coming up with surprising insights into the quality of silage maize, which it claims is not disappointing.
The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize remains the same at €70 per tonne for fresh maize. There is however not much trade in freshly chopped silage maize anymore. These are really the last plots that still have to be chopped. Insiders estimate that 90% of the maize has been harvested. Livestock farmers have built up a stock and the pits are full. There is hardly any trade in maize that can be fed directly. For preserved maize, prices from €80 per tonne are mentioned.
The results of first chopped maize are now known, Eurofins reports. The quality of the maize, which is relatively high in starch and VEM, is not disappointing at all. Eurofins does write that this is maize that was sown on time and harvested in the second half of September. There are major differences in quality of the 1.500 pits examined, the research institute writes. There was a lot of rain in the south of the country last spring and Eurofins also noticed this. Normally, the majority of the first maize pits that are sampled come from the south. This year, it is mainly pits from the east and north. Where the maize was sown on time, the crop developed well and the conditions for cob filling and ripening were favourable, Eurofins concludes.
The DCA Indicative Price for straw increases slightly to €170 per tonne. Looking at the supply side, the straw trade seems to be going a bit more difficult again. Prices are rising for that reason, because the demand is there. But the prices vary greatly, says a trader. A customer in the south who is flexible and less critical of quality can succeed for €160, but €180 per tonne for a nice load in the north is also just fine.
The DCA Indicative Price for brewers grains increases to €3,50 per percent dry matter. The supply is a bit on the tight side according to some suppliers and a delivery time of one week is mentioned.
The DCA Indicative Price for grass seed hay remains stable at €180 per ton. Forage traders report that little is happening. A few do a sporadically small load. It remains with incidental transactions.
The DCA Indicative Price for silage grass remains stable at €85 per ton. Traders with more intensive companies as customers have the permanent work, but partly due to the good growing season there is little further demand for silage grass.
The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes remains the same at €50 per ton. There does seem to be a bit more supply. The price range is wide and is quickly a tenner or a bit more below or above the DCA Indicative Price.
The DCA Indicative Price for meadow hay remains stable at €195 per tonne. The trade in meadow hay is generally quiet to reasonable, although demand remains limited according to insiders. There is supposedly supply, but demand is said to be lukewarm, partly due to the dry weather. As a result, the animals are still outside for a little longer.