Analysis Forage
Demand for roughage remains good
Without the interest being extreme, roughage remains in high demand. Due to the drought, dairy farmers have to take into account the disappointing grass and maize harvest this year. The high milk price enables them to get down to business.
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The growing season is now almost over. With the exception of a few plots, the maize is in the silage. Last week many dairy farmers took advantage of a few dry days to bring in one last cut of grass. Due to the heavy rainfall in September, many meadows have recovered fairly well. Yet dairy farmers often harvested less roughage than previously thought.
Looking for roughage
The rapidly rising price of phosphate rights reveals that dairy farmers are not saying goodbye to less productive cows en masse. The high payout prices motivate to continue milking vigorously, all the more so because the dairy market is reasonably solid. The price decreases that are visible do not threaten milk prices yet. As a result, dairy farmers are often looking for roughage in order to have stocks in order for the winter. There is no panic. There is, however, above-average buying interest at the moment, with prices essentially remaining the same.
The DCA indication price of silage maize will remain at €95 per tonne this week. It does not look like the €100 limit will be passed any time soon. The market appears to be leveling off somewhat, because on balance stocks are not disappointing. The same applies to other feeds such as meadow hay and silage. Straw prices also remain in place at €135 per tonne. The potato residual flows are rising in price this week, due to persistently strong demand. The price of spent grains is stable at €4,05 per percent dry matter.
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