Analysis Enter
Roughage market is entering a crucial phase
Due to the persistent drought, there is hardly any grass growth anymore. Although the necessary precipitation has been predicted this week, the shortages are far from being made up. High-quality roughage was already scarce and now everyone is also sitting on stocks.
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At the time of writing, it is still uncertain how much rain will fall. Precipitation is welcome to a greater or lesser extent throughout the Netherlands, because older insiders are increasingly referring to 1976 when no precipitation fell for almost the entire summer. In recent years it has also been dry, but the situation often only became critical at the end of the growing season.
Now it is almost impossible to get a good third cut. There may be some relief at the end of this week, but the drought problem is not over yet. Many crops enter a crucial phase for crop development, where growth will be compromised if prolonged drought occurs. This applies not least to maize.
Price-keeping
Despite the drought, the trade in roughage is not yet very lively. This is because grass supplies are scarce, which means there is hardly any supply available. Dairy farmers who have surpluses are also reluctant to offer lots. This often does not result in higher prices, but normally prices often drop at this time of year. That is not an issue now. With the grain harvest just around the corner, more straw will probably be released in the coming weeks, often changing hands off the land.
Beer grains up
The by-products in the form of spent grains and potato waste are in high demand and are therefore increasing in value. After four stable weeks, the DCA indication price increases by €0,10 to €3,80 per percent dry matter. It is the first increase since the beginning of 2023. Brewer's spent grain is increasingly being included in rations to increase the urea content in milk.
Click here to view prices.