The trade in roughage remains stable. The usual work continues, but often smaller lots are traded. Most forage traders are not really busy, but there is certainly no reason to complain, according to various insiders.
The straw trade continues quietly. Livestock farmers, but especially horse farmers, are at the market, but it is not overly busy. There is sufficient supply of straw. In France in particular, more and more straw is being released. French arable farmers and traders have held on to straw stocks for a relatively long time in the hope of higher prices in the second half of the season, as happened last year. Now that higher prices have not yet materialized, they still want to clear out in order to empty the barns in time. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw remains the same at €130 per tonne.
Silage grass is in high demand, but it must be good grass with levels on which the cows produce milk. There is also interest in silage grass suitable for goats. However, the supply of quality silage grass is not available. The DCA Indicative Price for silage remains the same as last week at €70 per tonne. There is relatively little demand from livestock farming for meadow and grass seed hay. Just as with silage grass, traders say they need to look for good quality lots. The DCA Indicative Price for meadow hay remains the same as last week at €190 per tonne. For grass seed hay, prices range from €130 to €140 per tonne, depending on the variety.
Demand market
The market for by-products remains a real demand market. Especially now that the supply of campaign products is declining, livestock farmers are looking for alternatives to supplement the ration where possible and/or save on concentrates. This can be seen, among other things, in the spent grain. The DCA Indicative Price for spent grain remains at a relatively high level of €3,20 per percent dry matter. Feed potatoes are difficult to obtain, as they have been all season. Due to rising potato prices, that supply appears to be even smaller, according to some traders. The DCA Indicative Price remains the same as last week at €45 per tonne. The trade in silage maize has yet to get off to a good start. According to several traders, trade is taking place, but it often concerns smaller lots. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize this week is €72,50 per tonne.