With significant warm weather spells over the last month, many farmers across the country may be considering selling straw as the winter crop harvest gets underway.

After a wet spring, many farmers will be now turning their attention to securing straw for both bedding and feed ahead of the winter months.

With the benefits of straw as a supplementary feed previously confirmed, there is increasing demand for straw for both calves and cows during the dry period as an alternate fodder source due to its high fibre source and palatability.

With this in mind, Agriland spoke to many individual farmers both selling and buying in straw, as well as several associations involved in the straw and grain trade.

Straw trade

While some farmers are yet to begin harvesting this year's crop, some farmers are well underway.

Winter barley was commonly cited as the main source for straw currently due to its earlier harvesting date.

Round bales or 4X4 bales were typically averaging approximately €25/bale off the field (excluding transport and VAT).

Round bales were also reported to be going from €20-22/bale from the field by some farmers.

Some farmers who spoke to Agriland felt that straw could be sourced at reduced rates but the level of reduction depended on the farmer's loyalty to straw producers.

Many farmers were unwilling to divulge transport costs as they varied between the number of loads, whether the farmer wanted straw loaded or unloaded, as well as cost of diesel and travel distances.

Another farmer quoted approximately €30/bale for round bales.

Transport also fluctuated significantly. One farmer quoted €85/hr for transport including loading and unloading, and noted that this had gone up nearly €10 from last year's charge due to increases in green diesel and other associated costs.

A west-Cork based farmer reported round bales to be closer to €30-35/bale.

Another suckler farmer on the Beara Peninsula reported round bales costing closer to €50, including the bales delivered.

Square bales or 8X4X3 bales were reported as going for €50 from the field excluding transport and VAT by one Tipperary-based farmer.

Some farmers reported higher costs for square bales ranging from €60-70/bale.

Chair of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Grain committee, John Murphy said winter barley is mixed around the country with some farmers reporting yields below 4t/ha.

However he acknowledged that excellent straw was being produced due to the exceptional warm weather.

One mid-Tipperary-based farmer reported that straw has been scarce currently due to farmers applying for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).

"It's scarce; on 250ac I've only 100ac of straw. There's 100ac gone for chopping and then there's the beans and combi-crops."

The Irish Grain Growers' Group told Agriland that "the weather will mean there's excellent quality straw this year" but cautiously added that it "will be interesting to see where markets go if the drought persists".

Most farmers we spoke to were satisfied with the quality of the current crop of straw.

The IGGG said that the prices this year have held relatively in-line with last year's, despite fuel price increases as well as other increases including fertiliser and labour.

Winter barley was widely reported as the only winter crop currently being harvested.

The prolonged period of warm weather over the coming weeks is a potential cause for concern, as moisture levels dropping below 15% too early before harvest will result in reduced yield and result in increased straw prices if scarcity becomes an issue.