With third-cut silage bolstering stocks and farmers now starting to dry-off cows, demand for silage bales is slowing in some parts of the country.

Quality, weight and location were the biggest factors that influenced price when Agriland contacted sellers this week.

The price of silage across the country this week was found to be anywhere from €30 to €50/bale.

Donegal reported the lowest price, with silage bales making between €30 and €34.

One seller in Donegal said that he had to reduce the price of his silage to €30/bale, as it wasn't selling for €35/bale.

In the west, prices were slightly up, with sellers looking for €35 to €40/bale.

One seller in Galway said: "Everyone is banking on a strong demand coming from the south."

The same man is actively trying to sell 100 bales of silage and 70 bales of wholecrop.

Moving down the coast to Kerry and Cork, prices were steady at €40/bale.

One farmer in Kerry said that his Kuhn bales were chopped with over 20 knives and heavier than other bales produced by leading brands.

A seller in the south-east had a similar story: "My Pottinger bales weigh 350kg more than the leading brands."

Despite his bales coming in at 1,090kg, customers still found it hard to come to terms with his €55 price tag for first-cut silage.

However, the seller was not worried: "If they want to buy quality, they can buy my bales.

"Next spring is a long way away," he added.

In Tipperary, good quality silage is making €50/bale, with lesser-quality silage as low as €35/bale.

Prices were similar in Offaly, with bales making between €40 and €45.

One farmer in Offaly bought silage for €22/bale during the peak of summer, before selling it again at €40/bale shortly after.

While that farmer made decent profit from his 40 bales, one contractor we spoke to did not feel the same about the humble round bale.

"Wrap and diesel has gone up so much that there is nearly zero profit to be made from bales," he said.