For many livestock farmers, the first cut of grass is covered in plastic and the levels appear to be good according to the first reports. That gives some relief to the feed market. But maize sowing is only making moderate progress, especially on heavier soils and/or places where a lot of rain has fallen in the last week. This in turn has a somewhat price-containing effect on the market.
The supply of good silage from last season remains tight. Demand is still there, but it is declining according to some traders. Livestock farmers who are not immediately interested in rising prices are waiting and first want to see which way prices are going. As a result, there is only limited trade in silage. It is still too early for the new harvest and farmers are certainly not queuing up to sell. The DCA Indicative Price for silage from the 2022 harvest has taken a step back and stands at €100 per tonne.
There is more tension in the market for corn. Heavy showers have fallen across the Netherlands. When the seed has not yet been sown, it is an exercise in patience. Waiting until the soil is ready remains an art. Anyone who was able to sow but then had a shower of 40 millimeters or more has not yet recovered from the leak. It is not really late yet and if you have temperature and sufficient moisture, the corn can be grown in a week. Another factor that plays a role in the background according to various traders is the obligation to chop sand and loess before October 1. Sowing later delays the ripening of the crop at the end of the cultivation cycle. Demand for silage maize from the 2022 harvest remains good. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize remains the same as last week at €115 per tonne.
Major differences in by-products
The market for by-products is reasonably balanced in terms of supply and demand. Various wheat-related products have taken a step back due to the decline on the Matif, but the DCA Indicative Price for spent grain remains unchanged at €3,90 per percent dry matter. The potato by-products are the big exception. Several suppliers report that the supply is decreasing rather than remaining the same. The tight 2022 harvest and the late start of the early potatoes are now also starting to affect the processing industry. The supply of feed potatoes remains small. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes is €60 per tonne.
The fact that straw is running out is an exaggeration, but several traders notice that it is becoming increasingly difficult to buy more. This has had little effect on the price so far, but it is certainly not excluded that straw will become more expensive in the coming weeks. On the other hand, this is usually not the period when the demand for straw picks up very much. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw is €145 per tonne. There is limited trade in both grass seed and meadow hay. For meadow hay, the DCA Indicative Price remains unchanged at €190 and for grass seed hay prices range from €145 to €155 per tonne depending on the variety.