One swallow does not bring summer, but the number of manure injectors is increasing day by day on the plots now that it is drying. In addition, the first transporters drive from the manure storage facilities instead of just to the livestock farmer. However, the favorable weather conditions for the spreading season do not yet lead to lower sales prices for liquid manure. In any case, it remains a matter of guessing how sales prices will develop this season.
Due to the favorable weather of recent days, things are finally starting to move again when it comes to spreading manure. There is still no mention of crowds, but transporters are starting to drive from the silos instead of just from the manure pit. Until now, it has mainly been transport from the livestock farmer. Various fertilizer intermediaries and contractors indicate that the planning for next week is a lot fuller and will focus more on arable fields. On the other hand, the favorable weather forecast means that farmers will have to wait a while for better cultivation conditions. "If more precipitation had been predicted, I think we would have been busier in the coming days," says a contractor.
Sales costs remain stable
The favorable weather provides some relief on the overcrowded manure market, the mood is more positive for the sale of manure this spring. But this does not immediately lead to a decrease in manure disposal costs for pig and cattle slurry, as can be seen from the weekly manure quotations from DCA. This week (week 10) DCA's fertilizer quotations remain the same as last week.
With high selling prices, there is also a lot of room for prices to drop, you would say, but that is not entirely the case in this full manure market. The supply of cattle slurry has increased enormously in the past year, while the installation space has actually become smaller. In addition, this space will shrink again next year due to the phasing out of the derogation. In addition, the development of the fertilizer market varies depending on the weather conditions, as can be clearly seen in the spring of 2023. Then the sales costs for liquid manure fell by an average of only €2 per cubic meter at the start of the season, and then in April to increase slowly again.
Various fertilizer intermediaries indicate that when spring really arrives, a price reduction will be achieved. But the extent of this decline remains a matter of speculation in this hectic market. However, they agree that fertilizer prices from two and three years ago are not realistic. Concerns about sufficient installation space and the increased supply of mainly cattle slurry are leading and weather conditions are a much smaller factor.