Waiting buyer creates calm on the feed market

The price of straw also remains stable this week (in week 49) at €140 per ton, delivered to the farm. Various forage traders indicate that they expect the price will not decrease in the coming period. This applies to all feed products, because it is expected that serious price changes will not be visible again until January 2019.

Stable prices
As described, the market is calm, resulting in stable prices. The price for meadow hay remains at €240 per tonne delivered to the farm and the price of spent grain also remains stable at €2,70 per percent dry matter. The silage trade has been quiet for some time, but it has not led to a drop in the price. This remains at €50 per tonne free at the farm, although this is very dependent on the quality.

For silage corn €65 per tonne will also be paid free of charge this week. This price is variable because it depends on the quality of the corn. With good quality the price can rise to €70, while poor quality drops the price to €45. The price of perennial ryegrass remains at €160 per tonne free at farm.

Prices for red fescue, tall fescue and meadow meadow remain stable at €160, €160 and €155 per tonne free at farm respectively. However, there is almost no trade in the latter product. There is also little trade in potato products. "Very occasionally, a batch of rejected potatoes is sold," says a trader.

Buying phosphate rights?
The fact that it is quiet is somewhat surprising to traders. They dare not give the exact reason, but there are rumors going around. First of all, it is said that dairy farms currently have little liquid assets, partly due to the purchase of phosphate rights.

However, on the other hand, there are also sufficient dairy farmers who may still have to purchase phosphate rights. With a view to 2019 and the strict enforcement of Schouten they now give it priority. The traders hope that the payments from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which will be paid out these days, will generate more demand.