There are no big crowds in the forage trade. That is nothing strange in the dark days of December. What available roughage finds its way easily. Feed potatoes and good silage grass can even be called scarce.
Livestock farmers generally have their winter rations in good order and are trying to continue in the same way. Apart from some fine grinding, no major adjustments are made, according to forage traders.
Supply and demand of by-products is reasonably balanced. Pushing to get rid of everything that comes onto the market is not an option, according to some traders. The supply of certain potato by-products and some residual flows from grains is somewhat wider, while some traders have to curb the demand for spent grains somewhat. The DCA Indicative Price for spent grain remains stable at €4,10 per percent dry matter.
Feed potatoes are hardly available. The chip industry also takes the parties with a story that they would have ignored in years with ample supply. And if they are not suitable for fries, there are always flakes as a substitute. There is also not an abundance of seed potatoes and excess size is simply sold as seed potatoes. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes is increasing this week to €65. To be honest, with feed potatoes it is actually a matter of what the fool will give for them.
Big differences
The straw trade continues steadily. As a cover for bulbs and carrots it becomes quieter, but on the other hand there is slightly more demand from livestock farming. Prices between the North and South of the Netherlands vary considerably. The average DCA Indication Price remains stable at €140 per tonne.
Good silage grass and beautiful grass seed hay are both sought after but difficult to obtain. Livestock farmers who have plenty of roughage prefer to keep silage from the first or second cut for themselves. According to traders, you have to rely on a closing company to get grass for goats or dairy cows. The DCA Indicative Price for silage is €100 per tonne. Grass seed hay remains stable at €170 per tonne for all varieties. There is little trade in meadow hay and silage maize. For both meadow hay and corn, the DCA Indicative Price remains the same as last week at €190 and €85 per tonne respectively.