Inside Feed
Livestock farmers bet on early spring
It is still the same story on the feed market: there is little trade and prices remain virtually stable. In addition, forage traders let it be known that the (dairy) farmers are betting on an early spring and therefore do not see the need to buy additional feed.
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Choose the subscription that suits youLast week It already became clear that the chance of falling feed prices is increasing and the price for meadow hay seems to have caved under the pressure this week. The quotation for the product shows a decrease (-€5) to €240 per tonne free on farm. Although the price is still well above the 5-year average, for this period of the year it amounts to €183 per tonne free on farm.
Supply exceeds demand
However, it is striking that only the price for meadow hay has given way to the declining trend in the feed market. This is because many traders indicate that supply is currently exceeding demand. This normally results in falling prices. According to the forage traders, this is partly due to the difference of opinion between the traders and the livestock farmers.
The livestock farmers expect that there will be no shortage of feed and are betting on an early spring. That is why they see no need to buy additional feed; after all, they expect that there will be enough grass available soon. However, not all traders agree with those expectations, as with some showers in March, the mood could be completely different again. As a result, they keep prices stoically stable. This also makes the market more unpredictable than ever.
Stable prices
In addition, there was clearly more demand for it last week silage corn, but that trend will not continue this week. The price will therefore remain at €65 per tonne free of charge at the farm. Prices for perennial ryegrass and silage also remained stable this week, at €160 and €60 per tonne free on farm, respectively. The price for spent grains is €2,60 per percent dry matter.
The price for straw (both wheat and barley straw) has been at the same level for weeks now and that will not change this week: the price is €145 per tonne free on the farm. The prices for red fescue, reed fescue and meadowsweet are respectively €170, €170 and €155 per tonne free from farm. The price for the feed potatoes remains at €45 per tonne free from the farm.
Want to see all prices at a glance? Check it out our quotes page.