It's certainly not the busiest time of year for the forage trade. However, the prices don't reflect this. The supply of straw, as well as various byproducts, is limited. And it seems that won't change anytime soon.
The supply of products like steam peels and brewers' grains is on the tight side. Potato processors aren't operating at full capacity, and that's reflected in the supply. Brewers' grains remain a popular product among livestock farmers. It's available year-round, of course, and if cows are producing good milk on it now, farmers are reluctant to try anything else. The DCA indicative price for brewers' grains remains stable at €4 per percent dry matter.
Both the beet and starch campaigns are still in full swing. According to insiders, pressed pulp has largely been committed. "With pressed fiber, you have to make an effort to find a place for what becomes available," says a trader. Livestock farmers who don't mind opening the corn silage once more to cover it with pressed fiber are now also supplied, and this is causing a market shift. Potato chips and feed potatoes are also readily available. The DCA indicative price for feed potatoes this week is €30 per ton, delivered free of charge.
Buying wave straw behind the back
With last year's relatively high straw price still fresh in mind, sellers are reluctant to offer much now. The large bulk of straw intended for the bulbs is now also gone. Consequently, there isn't much demand. It's the regular companies that order a load of straw every few weeks. The DCA Indicative Price for both wheat and barley straw remains unchanged at €170 per tonne.
Demand for grass seed hay continues to grow. While the volumes aren't huge, the market isn't at a standstill like last season, according to several insiders. The DCA indicative price for grass seed hay ranges from €170 for perennial ryegrass to €180 for tall fescue. Meadow hay is and remains a product for enthusiasts, but there's certainly demand for it as well. The DCA indicative price for good meadow hay is rising to €200 this week. Natural hay is harder to sell. Especially if it still contains weeds, the price quickly falls below that of grass seed hay.
The silage market for grass and maize is quiet. Good first- or second-cut silage suitable for goats remains in demand. But grass that is a bit later or of lower quality is tough business. The DCA indicative price for grass silage is €80 per tonne this week. For maize, demand is currently coming primarily from customers with limited storage capacity who are used to receiving several shipments every six weeks or two months, for example. The DCA indicative price for maize silage is €85 per tonne.