Continued unsettled weather and a lowering in the purchase price is inserting more activity into the hay trade. Some farmers have got tired of waiting for a spell of fine weather to save hay and have switched to making haylage and silage. This is lowering the volume of hay coming onto the market and helping to insert more demand into the trade.

Reports also show that many sellers have lowered their asking price by €2 to €23 for a 4x4 round bale. This is likely to be contributed to by a seller’s willingness to move the bales straight from the field and avoid their movement indoors, while others want to get fields cleared for grazing.

One Carlow farmer selling hay this week told the Irish Farmers Journal that the market for hay is beginning to open up slightly, as they have seen an increase in interest levels in the last few days, with some buyers holding off in anticipation of higher supplies but now moving to secure supplies.

In the east and southeast, €23 to €25 seems to be the upper price charged, with prices also reported as low as €18 to €21 where hay is of lesser quality or sellers are anxious to clear fields. Hay delivered to the west and northwest is costing €25 to €30 for top-quality hay, with prices influenced by delivery distances.

The fact that some crops that were destined for hay have now been saved as silage is adding to what has been described by some as oversupply in the market. Good grass growth for 2017, combined with a carryover of supplies from 2016, has reduced demand and is leading to low volumes moving at present.

Some sellers with top-quality silage had set the bar high, asking €22 to €25 for top-quality silage. To move silage, some sellers have reduced the asking price to €17 to €20 per bale, with supplies described as strong right across the country.

One farmer is giving the option of unwrapped bales for €13/bale to incentivise farmers that wished to move bales and wrap on their own holding.

Once again, farmers buying fodder are encouraged to shop around as variation can be seen in price and quality across all regions. Quality should also be taken into account, depending on the nutrition requirements of the livestock it is destined for. All price quotes are excluding delivery, unless stated.