Inside Enter
Drought concerns seem to have been washed away on the feed market
While most livestock farmers were begging for some rainwater a few weeks ago, it can now quietly become drier in most places. At least, if we are to believe the sentiment on the roughage market. It seems that the rain of the past few weeks has allayed a lot of concerns.
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Last week the sentiment was already felt, prices remained the same and the biggest fear about a summer without rain had cooled down somewhat. This week, that image comes back even more clearly. Even now there are no price changes, any more than fear has been rekindled.
Grass and straw prices
Most uncertainty still prevails in the field of grass, but this week also in the price of straw. Grass is still difficult to obtain, livestock farmers keep it in the silage to compensate for possible subsequent dry months. In addition, the huge demand has ebbed somewhat. The price is quite unclear, but it usually comes out at around €60 per tonne (french farm). There may be some leeway in this, which usually results in a euro or €5 to €10 on top.
The straw price has now returned to the same level as last year in the same period, but the height that the price managed to achieve at the beginning of 2019 is far from equal. According to traders, that will no longer happen in the coming months. For old straw, livestock farmers pay between €100 and €115 per tonne (french farm), with the most common price being €110 per tonne. The harvest in France turns out to be quite disappointing, although it is unclear what this will mean for the price. Where one trader expects an increase, another thinks it won't make a difference.
Limited Availability
There is also limited availability for maize and fodder potatoes. Most of the maize silages that could be sold are already gone, livestock farmers are now waiting for the new harvest. The rain has provided some relief, the corn has grown noticeably in most places. If pits are still traded, the price is still on average at €70 per tonne.
The supply of feed potatoes continues in the same way. Little is available, but here and there loads leave for around €40 per tonne.
Stability, possible setback
The price of spent grains also remains stable at €2,65 (south) and €2,80 (north) per percent dry matter, with an average of €2,70. The market seems to be developing somewhat with increasing demand, but the supply remains stable. For now this means nothing, but that could change in the coming weeks, especially with a view to the feed track. Beer grains fall outside this policy and can be fed to correct the protein content.
The price for meadow hay remains at €180 per ton, and the price is already falling slightly here and there. There will probably be new supplies soon, as the grass is growing well. A fall in prices is therefore not certain, nor is an increase. It is striking that the price has fallen sharply in the past 5 years in the same period of this year. It has never been as stable as the current price.
The prices of meadow meadow, reed meadow and red fescue have not changed, as these products are (almost) unavailable. Click here for more (feed) prices.