Time is running out for driving out on grass

The call for clarity about a possible extension of the spreading season on grassland has increased considerably in recent days. This is because the spreading season for grassland is approaching the last week. In various places, a lot of manure could be moved to grassland, but that is not the case everywhere. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality says it will issue a letter to Parliament on Thursday, August 23, that will provide more clarity. 

Time is running out for grassland
Rain is expected this coming weekend, followed by summery weather. This week a third cut of grass could be extracted in some places and, in exceptional cases, even a fourth. However, it is expected that the majority of dairy farmers will start their next cut of grass next week. If the spreading season for grassland is not extended, there will be insufficient time to spread much cattle manure and arable land will have to offer a solution.

The spreading of manure on arable land continues steadily. Spreading manure provided contractors and intermediaries with considerable work last and this week. After the rain, sowing of green manures was resumed and manure could be spread in advance.

Extension helped
A extension of the spreading season (2 weeks) means that the manure market for arable land is relaxed. There is enough time to complete agreements properly, many silos are empty and the stock in the manure pits is shrinking. The possibilities in arable farming are favorable, partly due to the early grain harvest, but the early potato and onion harvest also offers some opportunities left and right.

The collection contributions for manure show some minor adjustments in week 34. What is striking in the pig slurry is that the highest contribution (€28 per tonne in Deurne) increases and the lowest contribution (€23,50 per tonne in Markelo) decreases. In between, the collection contributions remain stable. 

In cattle slurry the bandwidth does not change, but there are 2 small changes. For example, cattle slurry in Uden becomes €0,50 more expensive, bringing the price to €20 per tonne. That is the same price as in Deurne and Tilburg. In Lichtenvoorde the manure becomes slightly cheaper and the price goes to €17 per tonne. The cheapest sales remain in the hands of Markelo, where the contribution remains stable at €16,50 per tonne.

Expensive poultry manure
Chicken manure ends with stable prices, which maintains the bandwidth: from €16 per tonne in Uden to €28 per tonne in Markelo. The last time such prices were paid for poultry manure was at the beginning of 2011. It underlines the backlog in manure processing and makes it clear that the problems are not yet a thing of the past.

DCA-Markets records stable prices for the processing products, but at a high level. For example, 1 Replacement Processing Agreement (VVO) records €34 per kilo of phosphate in week 1,86. For the three-party agreement (3PO) it implies a price of €1,53 and code 61 does €1,42 per kilo. The collection contributions for poultry manure are at a high level.