The weather remains the theme on the roughage market. The first cut of grass has now been received, but the necessary corn still needs to be sown and manure spread. The picture is mixed in the feed trade. For example, there is not an abundance of straw, while with spent grain it is hard work for suppliers to find an owner for everything.
The first cut of grass has been mowed and ensiled almost everywhere. That doesn't mean things will be quiet. There is still a lot of corn to be sown and not all plots are as tidy as last autumn, to put it mildly. The more or less dry period we are still in is also being used extensively to apply manure. Apart from the problems surrounding derogation and NV areas, some of the cellars are full again because the weather in early spring did not allow the tow hose or tank to go onto the land. It cannot be ruled out that the silage results of the first cut will be disappointing because the grass has not received enough nitrogen.
Some traders have quite a demand for silage, but there is hardly any supply. Livestock farmers who had some leftovers and who sold a few loads to empty the silo have now done so. Silage bales from the new harvest are available, but they are not available to customers who want to feed them directly. The DCA Indicative Price for silage remains stable at €90 per tonne.
Push with spent grains
The by-products mainly consist of spent grains, which are peddled by various traders. Breweries continue happily while livestock farmers are not very keen to buy (much). Some want to build up a summer stock, but are still unsure whether the price will fall further and are therefore waiting. The DCA Indicative Price for spent grain takes another step back this week and amounts to €2,95 per percent dry matter.
When it comes to silage maize, the differences between prices and different regions are large. There is relatively high demand, especially in the peat meadow areas, and the price for maize is high. Confidence that the corn will turn out well for the coming harvest is quite variable. The structure of the soil is poor after the wet autumn and winter. Especially on plots that were moved last autumn, it is not easy to create a decent seedbed now. On the other hand, there are also farmers who, for example, tear grass for corn now that the first cut has been removed and they manage to get the corn in neatly. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize is taking a step back this week to €90 per tonne.
Short supply of straw
The demand for straw remains relatively high while the supply is limited. There is still quite a bit of straw in France, but it will still take a month or two before wheat straw from the new harvest becomes available. Then, given the current demand, that stock does not seem excessive. Other years, when things are tight, they move to Germany or Denmark, where there is hardly any straw available. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw increases to €150 per tonne.
There are hardly any changes in hay. Grass seed hay is almost gone. The DCA Indication Price remains stable at €185 per tonne, as far as there is still trade. It is still too early for meadow hay from the new harvest, although the weather does not cooperate to try something early. The DCA Indicative Price for meadow hay is €200 per tonne.