It is not very busy in the forage trade. We have to wait until the corn harvest gets going. The exception are the by-products. The beet campaign starts this week and with it the pressed pulp will also become available and there is a lot of demand for coverings for the corn that various livestock farmers like to have on their farm.
The corn choppers are moving, but opinions differ as to whether this is equally sensible everywhere. There are indeed plots that are ripe. However, some livestock farmers have a little too little patience and would be better off waiting another week, according to insiders. The trade in silage maize is still a bit on the quiet side. Some stock is sold, but forage traders are careful. Prices for standing maize are under some pressure and range from roughly €2.200 to €2.900 per hectare. The DCA Indicative Price for chopped maize from the new harvest delivered to the farmer starts this season at €80 per tonne.
With the corn harvest, the demand for by-products that can be transferred to the silage also increases. "We could store a lot more than we have available," several forage traders report. That's the same every year, by the way. During the harvest they want everything and when you are in November/December everything goes away. "That is why it is important to honor the regular feeders," said a trader. Furthermore, the beet campaign will start this week and the pressed pulp can be delivered. The spent grain market remains stable. All spent grains that are available find their way smoothly without any significant increase in waiting times. The DCA Indicative Price therefore remains the same at €3,90 per percent dry matter. The supply of feed potatoes remains limited. Prices vary somewhat, but the average in the DCA Indicative Price remains at €60 per tonne.
Quality
Major differences in quality characterize the straw market. There is occasionally tension between what the customer expects and what is delivered. More than average loads are being recalled, various traders report. In addition to livestock farming, bulb growers also come to the market for straw. Black straw is no problem for the bulbs, but these customers are keen on long straw. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw this week amounts to €130 per tonne. The bottom end of the market is around €125 per tonne and for long golden straw this increases towards €140 per tonne.
There is little trade in hay. Grass seed hay is difficult to obtain, but on the other hand, several traders report that they have little demand. The DCA Indicative Price has taken a step up to €160 per tonne. There is hardly any distinction based on race. Being able to deliver is more important, it seems. Meadow hay remains stable at €190 per tonne. Silage grass is also traded relatively little. What is being done is often bales of autumn grass that were harvested last week. It is quiet in normal driving holes. The DCA Indicative Price for silage grass remains stable at €85 per tonne.