Tensions in the manure market are increasingly diverging regionally. Historical patterns are shifting, while livestock farmers are strategically waiting and intermediaries are grappling with supply and timing. The approaching spreading season adds an extra dimension. Read more about regional price differences, supply pressure, weather influences, and the impact of the spreading season.
Historically, the manure market has been completely turned upside down. While pressure was traditionally greatest in Brabant and Limburg, the focus now shifts elsewhere. DCA collection fees in Deurne, Tilburg, and Uden have generally started to decline, both for pig and cattle manure. This is because manure intermediaries are struggling to secure sufficient supply. Although latent manure is available, livestock farmers are holding on to it in anticipation of lower prices.
The situation is different for other sales areas in the Netherlands. There, too, cattle farmers are delaying the supply of manure for the same, understandable reason, but the supply pressure is considerably greater, particularly for cattle slurry. The bottleneck here lies not so much in the inability to contain manure under the pits, but mainly in problems caused by foaming.
Another likely factor is that the manure market in the south has historically been more accustomed to structural supply pressure and is better equipped to handle it. Surpluses were less common in the north and east of the Netherlands until recently, but due to the phasing out of the derogation, this has now become the new reality.
Riding season about to start
From February 16th, liquid manure can be spread again in the Netherlands. Dairy farmers will be grateful for this opportunity to first fertilize their own (high) plots before moving on to further disposal. Weather conditions currently vary greatly by region. In the north of the country, temperatures have been hovering around freezing for quite some time and are expected to remain so for the next two weeks. The weather towards the south is significantly milder.
A further drop in manure prices in the southern Netherlands is a likely scenario in the coming weeks, although overestimations should be avoided. Significant price drops of, for example, €5 per cubic meter are unrealistic, according to some sources. With continued favorable weather conditions, the manure market elsewhere could also relax somewhat, although some manure will certainly need to be spread there first, according to market participants.
DCA collection contributions
The average collection fee for pig manure this week in the South of the Netherlands is €31,50 per cubic meter and in the Central Netherlands it is €37,17 per cubic meter. For cattle liquid manure, the fees are €30,33 and €36,83 per cubic meter, respectively. In the Leeuwarden region, the DCA collection fee for cattle liquid manure this week is €37,50 per cubic meter.
Click here for a link to the database for (historical) manure prices.