Demand for straw still strong
By FWi staff
STRONG demand for standing straw continued this week with the second round of collective auctions being held across the Midlands.
Most buyers, however, have not been tempted to match last years values.
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The exception to the rule has been Welsh buyers, who have been spending nearly as much as last year.
According to Lyndon Trumper of Abergavenny-based J Straker Chadwick, many have opted to push bidding that bit further rather than pay higher haulage costs this season to bring in straw from the main arable areas.
Supplies of wheat and oats have led the trade averaging about 46/acre, with top bids in the mid-50s/acre.
Barley was cheaper at 30/acre. Alternatives – including pea, bean and rape haulm – were also in consideration for bedding material.
Further east on the borders, Brightwells Nick Champion reports a slightly easier trade for winter barley which topped at 39/acre; winter wheat was also back at 40/acre.
The collective sale of 147ha (364 acres) around Hereford and Tenbury Wells noted a “significant price difference” for clean straw, with some lots showing signs of disease after a prolonged, wet spring.
“Quality counted for a lot, but also location.
“Any lots off the main roads would be 10/acre behind handier fields. But demand has helped lift the price of pea and rape haulm,” he says.
These sold to an average of 6.10/acres for pea and 6.26/acre for rape.
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Oat growers found demand for straw particularly pleasing with a top bid of 38/acre and an average of 34.24 being achieved.
It was a similar story in Shropshire, with Barbers Bernie Hutchinson clearing almost 1200ha (2900 acres) in a collective auction.
“Only eight lots out of 114 didnt sell. The average would be slightly down on last years buoyant trade, but commodities are back and it is understandable that input prices will be reduced,” he comments.
Auctioneers appear pleased with the recent trade. Some, including Wright-Manleys Alistair Brown, thought values would be much tighter.
“It is still selective, but vendors will be happy with what they have got.”