The roughage trade is getting somewhat snowed under due to all the land work that is waiting for livestock farmers. Solid dry weather is not a feature of this spring. That makes it all a little more challenging. In addition, we have one less working day this week due to Ascension Day.
Last week a lot was mowed with a few dry days. What was not covered last week will be removed this week. And anyone who is not sitting in the grass now wants to sow corn or spread manure on the newly mown plots. It doesn't all happen automatically yet. It was already wet and the heavy rain around the weekend, especially in the south of the country, did not help matters. Especially on plots that were destroyed by the corn harvest last fall, a chain and a tow tractor are not an unnecessary luxury. With so much activity on the land, it is understandable that the forage trade is not equally high on the list of every livestock farmer.
Farmers may be prepared to continue working on Ascension Day and the following Friday, but transport thinks differently. This still poses a challenge, especially in the by-products. Not every factory stops and what becomes available must be sold. "We can handle it well, but you have to stay on top of it," said a trader. Supply and prices remain fairly stable across the board, but if a buyer wants to purchase a larger quantity, there is quite some room for negotiation, as differing suppliers indicate. The DCA Indicative Price for spent grain remains the same at €3,15 per percent dry matter. Feed potatoes remain very limited in availability. What cannot go to the chips goes to the flakes, leaving little for food. The DCA Indicative Price remains the same at €60 per tonne.
Ask about grass silage
Even though the grass harvest is in full swing, there remains a reasonable demand for silage. Some farmers are running out of roughage. Some had hoped to be able to graze for a long time, but due to the wet conditions they were still feeding heavily in the stable. Some traders report that they have quite a high demand for grass silage to bridge the gap until the cows can get the grass into the meadow themselves without damage.
The DCA Indicative Price for silage takes a step up and amounts to €90 per tonne this week. Demand for corn is also good. The price of silage maize also rises to €95 per tonne.
There are few shifts in hay and straw. The supply of straw in the Netherlands is not enough. There is sufficient straw in France, but there is a bit of a problem with the availability of cheap return freight. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw is €145 per tonne. In grass seed hay we are now waiting for the new harvest. Every now and then a load is done, but that doesn't amount to much. The Indication Price remains stable at €185 but with very little trading. Meadow hay bounces along. There is no shortage of supply of good hay, but so is the demand. The DCA Indicative Price for meadow hay remains the same at €200 per tonne.