It is difficult to gauge what is happening in the roughage market. In the case of grass silage and meadow hay, old harvest and new harvest are mixed up. With direct shortages of feed among livestock farmers, things are generally not too bad, but with the dry years with disappointing roughage yields still fresh in the memory, some farmers prefer to be on the safe side.
The first cut of grass was on average good, but the regrowth could be faster. A shower would help, but that is not in the weather forecast for the next few days. Corn is just struggling because of the low (night) temperatures. Of course, this does not say everything about what else the growing season has in store. Some livestock farmers, who usually have a somewhat poor supply of roughage, are already taking action. This is not always done through the trade but, for example, through the neighbor who wants to get rid of a load of foil bales.
There is little trade in silage from the old harvest at the moment. The supply largely comes from livestock farmers who stop. There are not many farmers who still have grass left and want to empty the silo for a second cut at the moment. Because there is only limited trade and also large differences in quality, it is difficult to arrive at a representative indicative price. For good silage grass that can be fed directly, the DCA Indicative Price nevertheless amounts to €100 per tonne.
Ask about by-products
According to some traders, the demand for by-products is picking up again. Livestock farmers are looking for more additions to the ration and single feed products remain interesting from a price point of view, according to insiders. It is certainly not the case that waiting times are increasing, but 'the representatives have to slow down rather than rush to get rid of by-products', according to a supplier. The DCA Indicative Price for spent grain remains the same as last week at €3,70 per percent dry matter. Potato by-products and feed potatoes are and will remain scarce. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes is €60 per tonne, if they are available at all.
With meadow hay, just like with silage grass, the trade between old and new harvest is mixed up. Buyers of last season's hay are mainly riding schools that keep small stocks and want hay that can be fed immediately. The DCA Indicative Price for hay for 2022 is €190 per tonne. There has not yet been much trade in this season's hay delivered to customers, but for what is being done, prices quoted by forage traders are around €150 to €160 per ton, delivered free.
Straw is running out
Straw and grass seed hay are running out. Most traders have little to do, especially in grass seed hay. It's mainly a matter of emptying the barns, it seems. The DCA Indicative Price for grass seed hay has increased this week and ranges from €160 for Englishraai to €170 for Red Fescue. Wheat and barley straw remain unchanged at €145 per tonne. Here too, the back of the barn can now be seen by most traders and arable farmers. Buying an extra load in Germany or France is also becoming increasingly difficult.
The market for silage maize shows few changes. According to various forage traders, the supply of good maize is limited and a buyer can quickly be found for what becomes available. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize therefore remains unchanged at €110 per tonne.