In the Netherlands, the grasslands are turning green again in many places. In other parts of the European Union (EU), however, the problems in the feed are only increasing. Straw prices have already tripled in various places. The maize harvest in Germany has also started.
The region hardest hit is Ireland. This is evident from European figures. Over the past week, the rain has provided relief in several places and a drastic change in the weather was also seen in Germany, thanks to storm Nadine. A temporary break, because this week it will be warm and dry again in most places.
Rain came too late
In other Northern European member states and in the Baltic states, too, the rain came too late for grass and other crops to recover. It means that some of the livestock farmers have already lost almost half of the harvest. Not only the dairy farmers, but also the pig farmers have to deal with this. The coming weeks will show whether this will remain the case or whether the damage will only increase further.
In the United Kingdom (UK), where it usually rains a lot and often, there are also several areas where dairy farmers have been hit hard by the drought. The prices for straw (which is used as feed and bedding) are increasing considerably in the meantime. Other products, which should help to make up for the lack of grass, also noted higher prices. The price tag of all those feed purchases runs into the thousands of pounds. Even on small businesses.
A cattle farmer from England tells Business Day that straw usually costs £35 per tonne, but that £100 is due by the second week of August. The higher prices are the result of a bigger problem: a significantly lower grain harvest in Germany. In Schleswig-Holstein alone, the harvest saw a loss of 20% to 40%. The year before, Germany also experienced a setback in the straw harvest (too much precipitation), making this the second season of shortages.
In the Netherlands, too, the prices for straw are higher than in other years, right after the ex-land period. It therefore looks like the 2018/2019 season will broadly be a repeat of the previous season.
Silage in maize silage
Another problem that is prominent in parts of Germany is the high nitrate content in silage maize; This is especially the case for corn that matures during the season. It carries the danger of 'nitrite formation'. "When gas clouds are discovered at the pit, it is advised not to open the pit. This is because there is a danger of the formation, which is dangerous for people. If silo gas comes into contact with moist places, nitric acid is formed. "
After the 'emergency harvest' The main harvest has also started in various places in Germany. The harvest normally starts at the beginning of October, but 2018 proves to be a special year on all fronts. Yet in Kleef, for example, it is not expected that the maize will meet the needs of the livestock, which means that scrap will have to be fed additionally. Others harvest the corn to make room for grass, in hopes of additional roughage.
The harvest has also started in Thuringia, but there are still some stocks available. This means that the concerns of livestock farmers are slightly less. However, purchases cannot be avoided here either. In addition, storm Nadina has created a new problem. The maize has cracked in several places, which also makes the harvest a challenge. Dairy farmers keep their fingers crossed that a golden October is coming.