The dry weather is also a much-discussed topic in the roughage trade. Livestock farmers who normally have plenty of grass are in no hurry to sell anything. In the meantime, the demand for by-products is not decreasing. In fact, it is starting to squeeze a bit in various residual flows.
The weather forecast for the coming weekend includes precipitation. Whether that will actually happen, we will of course have to wait and see, but players on the feed market do not seem to have much confidence in that yet. Moisture is very much needed. In grass that was mowed two or three weeks ago, regrowth is only moderately getting going. In spite of that, there is not much trade in silage grass. Some traders have a few bales of new grass, but sellers are not in a hurry. Let's first see what will grow before we sell anything, think several sellers. Prices for large bales that are mentioned vary somewhat, but according to insiders, little is for sale below €100. There is demand for good grass from last season, but there is also little supply. "A somewhat lesser autumn cut is quite easy to get, but you have to search for grass that the cows give milk on," according to a trader. The DCA Indicative Price for good silage grass remains stable at €80 per tonne, delivered loose on the plate ex shovel.
By-products are in demand
The demand for by-products is good and exceeds the supply in various streams. The milk price is reasonably good, grass does not grow very well and if you want to keep the milk below that you will have to feed something, various suppliers of by-products conclude. Whether it is wood chips, steam peels or brewers grains, in the current market they could sell more than they are currently being offered, various suppliers say. The DCA Indicative Price for brewers grains is taking a step up and this week comes to €3,40 per percent dry matter.
There are more than enough feed potatoes. A few weeks ago, sales were also good because several farmers ensiled potatoes with the grass. Now that the first cut is covered in plastic almost everywhere, those sales have disappeared. Especially for washed potatoes, sales are limited to smaller quantities per time. With this weather, they float over the yard after a few days and the feeding speed must be sufficiently fast. The DCA Indicative Price for feed potatoes is therefore taking a step back this week to €35 per tonne.
The amount of activity in the straw trade varies considerably per forage trader. Companies with many dairy farmers in their customer base are quiet, while goat farmers and horse farmers, for example, remain on the market for straw. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw remains stable at €185. The range is quite wide. In the south of the country, prices are quickly ten euros lower, while in the north, ten euros more must be paid.
There is little trade in hay. Grass seed hay is almost gone but there is also little demand. There is still enough meadow hay from the previous harvest, but buyers are still waiting for good hay from the next harvest. The DCA Indicative Price for grass seed hay is €165, without major differences per variety. Meadow hay remains stable at €185 per ton.