Hay and straw trade remains unpredictable

Flooding problems appear to have had little effect on the market for hay, straw and silage, with trade remaining unpredictable, according to auctioneers.

Andrew Templeton, auctioneer with Carlisle-based Harrison and Hetherington, said to date the flooding issue had no influence on the auction price for fodder.

While some people had lost crop, there did not seem to be huge numbers of them, he said.

See also: Hay and straw sales bring farmers mixed results

“And what they have lost tends to be big bales of silage which was surplus, not their main crop, so they still have clamped silage they can use.

“It might have an effect later on in the year, but at the present time I have not seen anything.”

Mr Templeton said round bales of barley straw were typically selling for £15-£20/bale, while wheat was making £60-£65/t for decent loads of square bales, he said.

But he said there were some round bales of silage and hay up for auction at their sale on Monday (11 January) that failed to attract a bid.

“There is not a queue of people desperate to buy some, although maybe they are waiting for some insurance money.”

Adrian Cannon, partner with Gloucestershire-based Tayler and Fletcher, said lack of cashflow due to the late arrival of BPS funds was driving the market.

In his area, bidding was very localised and buyers were being highly selective – only buying lots they had seen.

The strongest demand was for barley straw, with good clearance rates and average prices at about £50/t.

Auctioneer Brown & Co Alexanders said, compared with 2015, its 2016 annual St. Ives sale on 11 January had seen improved prices.

There was particularly strong demand for hay, with some 14,000 conventional bales being sold at an average of £2.63/bale – 80p more than in 2015.

However, overall there was less demand for straw, with quadrant-type wheat averaging £12.20/bale and barley £18.20/bale.

There was also no demand for the 11 lots of haylage and silage on offer, which went unsold.

Michael Alexander, selling, said there was some indication that demand and supply for hay was more in balance and if the winter had been harsher the trade may well have been even stronger.

“The trade for straw continues to be unpredictable, with the mild winter a significant factor.”