What will the yields and feed values of maize do? That is the question hanging over the roughage market. A satisfactory answer will take some time. On the by-products market we see the first campaign products appear and in silage grass supply and demand do not fully match.
A late start to the season, which was also long, wet and cool, is not exactly an ideal corn year. Differences between plots are large. From corn that looks great to plots with flooded areas or where there is no mass. The cob ultimately has to do for the feed value. On the late sown plots that look mediocre, it is doubtful whether a good cob will come in and whether the plant will have enough time to ripen properly. The first choppers have now been spotted, but it will take a few more weeks before the harvest really gets going, according to traders.
Trade in corn on the stem is limited. According to insiders, around €3.000 per hectare is paid for a nice, even plot. There is little interest in securing something at such a price level. Buyers seem to be taking the risk that when the harvest really starts, prices will drop. The current account must also be able to cope, some indicate. The milk price is on the rise, but the disposal of manure hangs like a millstone around the necks of many cattle farmers.
Clamp
The trade in silage maize from the 2023 harvest has not happened yet. Some livestock farmers are just a little short and have to buy more. There is supply, but these are certainly not giveaway prices. Sellers also know that buyers are sitting with their fingers between the door. The DCA Indicative Price for good silage maize from the 2023 harvest has risen slightly to €100 per tonne.
The demand for solid by-products is good according to various traders. Energy in the spring silage is not always easy and livestock farmers want to supplement this in the ration. However, grains and soya have been under pressure in recent weeks. The upward space for the by-products is therefore limited. It is worthwhile to critically examine various available products. There are considerable differences between the feed value prices. The DCA Indicative price for brewers' grains remains stable at €3,50 per percent dry matter.
Campaign products
Last week Avebe started the starch campaign. This also makes the first potato fibres available. Prices of around €45 per ton are mentioned. Demand is still reasonable. The peak in demand is normally around the corn harvest when the potato fibres can be used as a cover over the pit. The largest campaign product, (beet) pressed pulp, is still a while away.
The supply of potato by-products from the French fry industry remains stable and good. Feed potatoes are a different story. They are and will remain difficult to obtain. "Leftover onions from the previous harvest and rejected plant onions are easier to obtain than feed potatoes", according to a trader. Due to a lack of seed potatoes, fewer common varieties have been planted this season and it is possible that - if the potato harvest really gets going - more feed potatoes will become available as a result. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes has taken a step back to €50 per tonne.
Wide range
There is demand for silage grass with good contents. It is only offered to a limited extent. Neat later harvested cuts are easier to obtain, but buyers do not offer the top price for them. For top quality silage grass, amounts of up to €85 to €90 are mentioned, while the bottom for autumn grass is around €65, €70. The DCA Indicative Price takes a step back to €80 per tonne with, as outlined, a fairly wide range.
There is not much trade in straw and grass seed hay. The harvest is behind us, the clamps on the headlands have been removed and arable farmers do not easily let go of the bales that have just been placed in the barn. For both wheat and barley straw, the DCA Indicative Price remains stable at €155 per tonne.
Grass seed hay comes out at €185 per ton. In meadow hay it is also not busy. The price remains stable at €190 per ton.