The supply of straw and hay is getting underway. However, the dairy farmer is a bit hesitant because there is generally still enough. However, the situation differs greatly regionally, because one region simply received more rain than the other.
The price of new straw is currently being set. The price is approximately €110 per tonne free at farm for barley and wheat straw. Supply comes from France, but increasingly also from the Netherlands.
Dairy farmers do not pack the barns as full as last year, for example, because it is assumed that more than enough straw will become available. Next week it will be determined how much straw will actually become available. When it is dry, the straw is often not chopped by arable farmers and more becomes available to the dairy farmer. The forecast shows little rain for the time being.
Temporarily more demand for silage maize
Furthermore, it is quite quiet on the feed market, after the demand last week which perked up. There was temporarily more demand for silage maize. The price varies around €70 per tonne, but that only applies to good quality. For the lower quality, prices are €65 per tonne. Purchases are generally pushed forward.
There is currently sufficient meadow hay and little demand. The price moves around €155 per tonne. However, prices vary regionally. The price for spent grain has been falling for some time, but this has now changed. The price is now around €2,15 to €2,20 per percent dry matter. The price for perennial ryegrass is €100 to €105 per tonne. For tall fescue, red fescue and meadow meadow, the price will be increased by approximately €130 per tonne.
Still enough food
Traders indicate that there is still sufficient roughage. However, this varies greatly per region, depending on the rainfall. The heat in the near future will not have a major impact yet, but it will determine what demand will be in the near future.