Now that spring – in which large quantities of manure have been spread – is coming to an end, the focus on the manure market is increasingly shifting towards the summer months. In those months, the sales opportunities are more limited and storage is becoming a more important issue again.
After a spring in which an exceptionally large amount of manure was spread, the supply is now picking up again. With some precipitation in the offing, some grassland is still being fertilized here and there in the last week, but transport to manure storage is also slowly starting up again.
Bottom reached
The bottom of the market has been reached, traders indicate. A price increase is more likely. Incidentally, an increase is not yet directly visible in the DCA collection contributions this week and the situation remains fairly stable, just like in recent weeks. Many arable farmers have mostly filled their manure sites this spring and can hardly get rid of any manure towards the summer; that is what is currently happening according to traders. There is therefore fear that there will be a shortage of space towards the summer, which could cause prices to rise considerably again. There is talk of considerable stocks of manure that are still available (mainly on paper). Due to the beautiful spring that we have had, there is much less space available towards the summer compared to previous years. In addition, this year there will be additional cuts to the nitrogen space in the various NV areas.
NV areas
It is also questionable to what extent arable farmers will still be able to opt for liquid manure this summer. Due to the new NV areas and the beautiful spring, most of the manure has been spread on arable land, it is said. As for arable crops, it starts with a basic dose of artificial fertiliser, because this is easier to control at the front end. By first applying sufficient artificial fertiliser, it can then be evaluated to what extent there is still room for application and how this can best be distributed. Partly due to the attractive rates for arable farmers, a considerable amount of manure was nevertheless spread on various plots of arable land last spring. "There is currently no overview at all of what an arable farmer can still apply after the grain harvest", according to a trader. With the statement that artificial fertiliser is easier to control at the front end and the increasing manure rates for arable farmers this spring, traders outline that it is almost inevitable that 80% to 90% of the available space will be full.
The removal of manure will have to continue. Here and there, the storage areas are starting to fill up again, with the costs of storage and transhipment also starting to count again. Some of the manure that is now being stored will be able to be spread this summer, but certainly not all of it, it is expected. This manure will have to remain stored in the winter, which will entail considerable costs, traders fear.
DCA collection contributions
After a period of stabilisation on the manure market, it can be concluded that the bottom has been reached. The DCA collection contribution for pig manure in the South of the Netherlands amounts to €30,33 this week. In the Central Netherlands this is €33,17. The collection contributions for cattle manure are respectively €26 and €30,83 per cubic metre for the South and the centre of the country.
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