Is there value for money in maize bales?
Are maize bales worth the money?
Kilkenny tillage farmer Edward Delahunty certainly thinks so, describing them as “tremendous value for money” this year.
“A number of factors are coming into play,” he told Agriland this week.
Delahunty said: “Overall, forage maize yields are down slightly. But dry matters are up, as is the proportion of grain within the crops.
“As a result, the feeding value of bales is up, year-on-year."
Delahunty explained that they are also weighing heavier than would normally be the case.
"The bales that we have made this year are averaging 920kg, well up on what would normally be the case," he said.
“The plan is to open a further pit of maize in the spring and bale it at that stage.”
Delahunty has made 2,000 maize bales over recent weeks, selling at €100 from his yard.
“This represents excellent value-for money.
"Dry matters are averaging 35% while starch values are excellent," Delahunty added.
Meanwhile, the 2026 beet harvest continues apace filed work due to build further momentum over the coming days," he added.
Edward Delahunty also outlined that they have sold 500t of beet over recent days and demand remains strong.
He said: “Despite the drought, yields have held up well. Our beet crops received a fungicide spray plus top up trace elements in September.
“All of this coincided with a spell of much-needed rain. Following this we saw significant compensatory growth taking effect.”
He said that currently customer demand for forage crops remains strong.
According to Delahunty there was a lot of grass silage made during September and October.
“Time will tell if this will be sufficient to get dairy and beef farmers through the winter.
“In our own case we have a traditional grouping of customers, who remain committed to feeding high quality forages, including maize and fodder beet," he said.
Meanwhile Delahunty highlighted that overall, it has been a good enough cropping year.
Despite the drought he said that grain yields held up reasonably well.
“Where our forage crops are concerned, the drought did impact some of the maize crops grown under plastic.
“All the rest have performed extremely well. There is a growing demand for high quality forage crops," he detailed.
Ground conditions for the harvesting of beet have remained very good over recent weeks and this is likely to remain the case, despite the fact that rain is forecast across may parts of the country over the coming days.
This should allow growers to follow-on with the sowing of winter wheat crops.
