Corn is still central to the roughage market. With the corn harvest in full swing, covering products are also difficult to obtain. Trade in other products is now on the back burner at various companies.
In the south of the country, the harvest of silage maize has come a long way. By the end of this week, early next week it should be well finished, if the weather continues to cooperate. More needs to be done in the north. The late-sown plots in particular are an exercise in patience. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize will increase this week to €80 per tonne delivered to the farmer. There are considerable differences. In a region that is favorable for transport, prices are around €75 per tonne, while further away prices go towards €85.
With the corn harvest in full swing, demand for silage products also remains good. Everything that becomes available is gone before you know it, according to various traders. The major strike at Cargill also has an effect on the feed market. Employees at five company locations in the Netherlands stopped working on October 6. As a result, wheat and corn by-products in particular are not or only limitedly available on the market of this major player on the Dutch market.
The demand for spent grain remains good. "Cattle farmers are familiar with the product and the cows do well on it," said a trader. The DCA Indicative Price for spent grain remains stable at €4 per percent dry matter. There is no shortage of feed potatoes available. There is some substandard seed potatoes and lots with significant quality problems. However, the majority goes into processing, albeit via the laundry. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes has taken a step back and amounts to €55 per tonne.
little trade
There is limited trade in hay and straw. In straw, it is the regular customers who stay on the market and there is seasonal demand. Straw for bulbs is now a fairly specialized branch that not every forage dealer ventures into. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw remains stable at €130 per tonne. There is little demand for meadow and grass seed hay. Prices remain unchanged at €190 and €160 per tonne respectively.
Not much happens in silage either. Quite a bit of grass has been mowed in recent days, but there is hardly any interest in this late autumn grass. We can almost say that a growing second half of the season has satisfied the hunger for grass considerably. Good grass from early this spring that is in greater demand is hardly offered. The DCA Indicative Price for good silage grass this week amounts to €100 per tonne.