Standing straw auctions kick off season on a high

Auctioneers have reported exceptional demand for standing straw ahead of harvest, although there seems to be a great deal of variation between locations.

A “tremendous” trade was observed by auctioneering firm Sunderlands at its first standing straw sale of the season in Herefordshire on 30 June.

A total of 213 acres of winter wheat and barley went under the hammer, with winter barley straw attaining a top price of £172/acre and averaging £150/acre.

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Winter wheat straw peaked at £161/acre and averaged £150/acre.

Richard Hyde, auctioneer at Sunderlands, said standing straw auctions had only just been getting under way in the past week and trade had been pretty phenomenal.

Mr Hyde said the firm had also recently sold some winter barley close to the Welsh border for £220/acre.

He added that this area usually produced very good crops and often received a lot of interest due to how accessible it is for Welsh buyers.

“Crop conditions are very variable this year. Some lots have had to take quite big areas out of the field due to crop loss, whereas some other crops are very good,” he added.

Shropshire-based auctioneers Halls sold 1,270 acres of straw on 1 July, with just over 1,000 acres of winter wheat averaging £97/acre and reaching a top price of £130/acre.

Spring barley sold to £60/acre, while spring oats averaged £61/acre.

Devon-based firm Bateman Hosegood saw winter wheat average £151/acre and winter barley averaged at £145/acre on 27 June near Exeter.

Its annual sale of standing straw in West Somerset on 26 June saw 1,300 acres of winter wheat sold, achieving an average price of £92/acre and a top price of £145/acre.

Winter barley averaged at £122.23/acre, peaking at £168/acre.

The British Hay and Straw Merchants’ Association say there is a lot of interest in new season straw, which is due to start coming to the market more in the coming week.

Ex-farm prices for big square-baled wheat straw this week ranged from £61/t in East Yorkshire to £90/t in the South West, according to merchants.

This compares with a range of £70-£120/t in the same week last year.