Hay shortage leads to exceptional prices and French imports
© Tim Scrivener Fodder shortages following an extremely dry summer have led to an increased interest in hay at auction.
Gloucestershire auctioneering firm Tayler and Fletcher held its first hay and straw sale of the season at Stow-on-the-Wold on 24 October, with more than 3,500t going under the hammer.
Meadow hay sold for £120 a bale for quadrants, which auctioneers say reflected the strong demand and high quality on offer.
See also: Straw and fodder shortages hit producers as prices climb
Meanwhile, round-baled meadow hay averaged £42 a bale.
Farmers were left to compete with buyers for the equine markets at the auction for the best quality hay, with prices peaking at £400/t.
UK hay and straw merchant and haulier Philip Judge International had transported hay in from France especially for the sale to keep up with demand. The hay went on to sell for £265/t.
Adrian Cannon, rural partner at Tayler and Fletcher, said: “We knew that hay had limited availability, but the open and transparent process of the auction has allowed the market to see the reality.”
Straw prices were also relatively strong on the day, with wheat straw selling for £110/t and barley straw averaging £125/t.
It is unclear whether prices will stay high for the remainder of the season with more favourable weather conditions in recent months easing the tight supply situation and extending the grazing period ahead of winter.