What does a bale of hay cost now as sales 'slowest in 10 years'?
High diesel prices and reduced demand from the equine sector have seen hay sales grind to a halt this autumn, but sellers are not panicking just yet.
Agriland found that the price of hay across the country was anywhere from €30-45/bale this week.
Hay has grown in popularity and is now recognised as a useful feed for drying off cows, in-calf heifers and dry stock.
However, with mild weather lasting deep into autumn and land still accessible, buyers are in no major rush to stock up on hay.
Even if the weather does decline, hay sellers have said they are still not expecting their phones to be ringing off the wall.
High supply
"Normally we don't have to advertise our hay at all, but everyone has made their own this year," said one long-term hay seller in Cork, where hay is moving slowly at €35/bale.
"My advert has been up a long time and I can count the genuine calls on one hand," said another seller in Co. Offaly, where hay prices are about €30/bale.
In the west of the country, one organic farmer said he will "do well to sell a quarter of the 300 bales that he has advertised".
"With the summer we had this year, every patch of grass around here was saved for hay.
"I honestly can't see my hay being sold; it's probably going to stay in the shed," he said.
But the same farmer was not too worried: "I'll get my €40-odd for it at some stage. Spring is a long way off yet," he added.
A seller in Co. Louth, where hay is available for €35/bale has had to re-advertise hay that did not sell last year.
The hay has taken up space in two of his sheds for two years now, so he is understandably looking to move it on.
However, another seller in Co. Offaly took a more relaxed approach: "The shed is up and it's paid for.
"The hay is in the shed, it's safe," he added.
Low demand
Across the country, all of the hay sellers Agriland spoke to reported that equine customers are no longer propping up sales.
"All our hay would usually have went to horses, but now it's mostly sold for cows or cattle," said one seller in Co. Tipperary, where hay is advertised for €40/bale.
"There aren't many horse people around anymore apart from the large-scale companies," he added.
In Co. Wicklow, where hay prices are averaging about €36/bale, one seller reported that there is "no go at all on the horse trade".
"Money is tight because the horse trade is gone."
The equine demand was equally low in Donegal, where hay for dry stock is moving slightly better despite a €40/bale price tag.
Diesel prices
Farmers are reluctant to purchase hay right now because high fuel prices are increasing haulage costs.
The increased cost of delivery has forced farmers to either wait it out and hope for a drop in fuel prices, or shop more local for their winter fodder.
While diesel suppliers are never slow to increase prices based on their costs, the same cannot be said for hay sellers.
One long-term seller reported that he had not increased his prices in five years: “We're too genuine, that's our problem.
"If someone's out of feed, I'm not going to stick the knife in."
One seller summed-up the situation facing hay sellers quite well: "It's not been a good year for hay, but then again, it's not been a good year for anything.
"You just need to keep your head up and not think about it," he added.
