In general, it is mainly a waiting game in the forage trade. That is different in by-products. Due to a combination of a very decent milk price and grass that has difficulty growing after the first mowing, there is a lot of interest in other supplements in the ration.
Of course, it is still relatively early in the growing season and there has been (a little) rain in the meantime and according to the reports, more is on the way. No reason to really worry yet, but insiders do notice that some livestock farmers are a bit frugal with their roughage. Solid by-products are in high demand as a supplement to the ration and to save on silage maize, for example. The advance sales of pressed pulp are also going well, according to insiders. Better safe than sorry, say farmers. The DCA Indicative Price for brewers' grains has increased again this week and is €3,60 per percent dry matter.
There are more than enough feed potatoes according to various traders. Nevertheless, the DCA Indicative Price remains stable at €35 per ton.
The demand for silage maize varies quite a bit. One trader has a lot of demand and has trouble filling everything, while for others it is mainly some regular customers who keep buying. The DCA Indicative Price for silage maize this week comes out at €95 per ton.
Waiting for new harvest
Hay and straw are trading quietly. Straw is still available but remains at a good price. Some traders advise customers to wait for straw from the new harvest if possible. "Grain is generally doing well and if we get a somewhat normal summer, the straw price for the new harvest could drop to a considerably lower level", according to a trader. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw is €185 per tonne. There is hardly any trade in hay.
In grass seed hay, it is just like with wheat waiting for the new harvest. There is still some old grass seed hay and traders mention a price of €165 per tonne for that. Meadow hay has already been harvested somewhat, but traders are generally cautious with that. "Let's leave it for a few weeks first so that we are sure that it is properly dry and that there is no heating before we start on that", according to a forage trader. The DCA Indicative Price for meadow hay from the 2024 harvest remains the same at €185 per tonne.