The moderate or downright bad grain harvest is clearly noticeable in the forage trade. Straw is hard to come by and that has an effect on the price. Cosun Beet Company started the beet campaign today. This makes the large residual flow from the sugar industry, pressed pulp, available again. The corn harvest is not progressing as well. Due to the late and cool spring, everything is a bit later.
Three days earlier than last year, the sugar campaign started today (Tuesday 17 September). This means that the by-product pressed pulp will also be on the market again in the coming days. It is still difficult to estimate the number of beets that will be harvested, what the sugar percentage is and what pressed pulp will be available so early in the campaign. Initially, only the orders from the pre-sale will be delivered. As the harvest progresses, adjustments can be made based on the pressed pulp that becomes available.
Brewers' grains continue to increase in price. The DCA Indicative Price continues to rise to €3,60 per percent dry matter. What becomes available in brewers' grains is easily sold. In fact, some traders could sell more than they are currently being offered. According to some insiders, the production of brewers' grains is declining rather than increasing.
The DCA Indicative Price of wheat and barley straw is increasing to €170 per tonne. Some traders have an easier time obtaining straw than others, but the common denominator is that arable farmers are not exactly giving straw away. Shortage is always a dangerous word. Only when straw has to be brought in from further away do the transport costs add up. According to insiders, there is enough straw in Spain, but that is a lot further away than in France. Those extra transport costs will have to be paid anyway.
Corn harvest not really getting underway yet
The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize remains the same at €95 per tonne. According to traders, there is still enough maize from the 2023 harvest. The harvest has yet to get going this season. There is some trading on the stem, but it is not yet a storm. There are big differences in the state of the maize and that also makes it difficult to put a price on a plot. Roughly speaking, it ranges from €1.400 to €2.500. An even plot of good maize is of course at the top of the range.
The DCA Indicative Price for meadow hay remains at €190 per tonne this week. Trade is not booming according to traders and there should be enough. As for grass seed hay, the DCA Indicative Price remains unchanged at €185 per tonne. The supply of grass seed hay is limited according to traders. The DCA Indicative Price for silage grass also remains the same at €80 per tonne. This concerns good silage grass from a first or second cut on which the cows give milk. Autumn grass that is harvested now is quickly a few tens of euros cheaper. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes remains stable at €50 per tonne.