Straw haulier and trader John Ryan from Castletown, Co Laois, said that straw “can’t be got”.

“Last year, I had straw until May or June. Now I’m completely out of barley – the last of it left today – and I have only a little wheaten left,” he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

While he sees demand at similar levels to last year, he said low straw yields caused by poor harvest weather had hit supply. One farmer he works with cuts 3,000ac of cereals and is down 3,000 bales on last year.

John has started making enquiries in the UK, but “as soon as they hear an Irishman, the price goes through the roof”. He said he was holding off on importing straw until he had specific orders for it. Tillage farmers are quoting him €45 for an 8x4x4 bale of barley straw and €40 for the same amount of wheaten straw.

Sellers advertising straw out of Kildare and Laois are quoting between €35 and €38 for 8x4x3 bales collected, or €42 to €45 for 8x4x4 bales delivered. “There is no more barley – it’s costing way too much,” one Kildare-based seller said. “I’m getting fairly tied up, and faster than in many years,” said another, adding that the situation was “worrying” for his farmer customers.