Some tillage farmers in the Canadian province of Ontario are planting spring cereals to harvest primarily for straw such is the value of the crop at present.
On a study tour to the area, the Irish Farmers Journal heard straw is currently selling for C$0.10 per pound to C$0.15 per pound. The average Canadian straw round bale weighs 600 pounds meaning farmers receive C$80 to C$100 per bale.
At these prices, a tonne of straw is worth between €150/t and €225/t.
Straw prices in Ontario have risen sharply following a winter kill in the wheat crop which has resulted in a 30% acreage loss. The typical loss is just 5%. Up to 430,000ha of winter wheat is grown in the province and as much as 150,000ha is estimated to have been lost.
Yields
Typically, winter wheat yields six to seven round bales per acre while spring barley yields four round bales per acre. Given the prices and yields, farmers planting spring cereals now could expect to earn up to C$400/acre (€272) from straw alone.
Straw is mainly used for bedding in the region but a smaller percentage also goes for animal feed. So far in 2019, there has been a lot of competition among farmers for the scarce commodity.
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