Manure has never been so expensive in spring

The collection contributions that pig farmers pay to get rid of their manure in the spring has never been so high. This is evident from figures from DCA. 

Pig farmers pay an average of 25,5 euros per cubic meter of slurry during this period. The pig manure in the South region is about half a euro cheaper than in the Central region. In the same period last year, pig farmers paid almost 23 euros in the South region and just under 25 euros in the Central region. In the past decade, the price for pig slurry has not been as high this time of year as it is now, analysis shows. 

Price cattle manure equal to 2016
Cattle farmers who want to have their manure collected pay an average of more than 20 euros per cubic meter. Last year the rate for cattle slurry was at a comparable level. 

Too wet to drive
Intermediaries collect pig manure to a limited extent because they are unable or hardly able to spread manure and the storage facilities are full. Manure spreading is made more difficult by the wet weather conditions; Grass and arable land are far too wet to ride on. Gradually, cattle slurry has been spread on a few plots with a trailing foot slurry injector.

Demand is nil
Arable farmers hardly ever ask for manure, while pig farmers now make maximum use of their manure pits. This ensures that collection fees can be so high during the exit season. Normally, the collection contributions decrease in the spring from the moment that the spreading of manure starts. 

The average price over the past ten years has been 20,8 euros per cubic meter. Since mid-2015, the collection amounts have been well above this average. 

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