LacPatrick’s fodder aid scheme has seen almost 1,400t of maize silage delivered to the co-op’s suppliers.

The company announced in late January that it had secured a sizeable quantity of maize silage, believed to be in the region of 4,000t, to aid suppliers on both sides of the border who are facing a severe fodder shortage.

Demand has been greatest from farmers located in the northeast of NI, an area which experienced some of the highest and most prolonged rainfall last year.

Sales of maize silage are being partly subsidised by LacPatrick, with the fodder costing suppliers £70/t, significantly below the current spot market value which is closer to £80/t.

Delivery is also included in the outlined price, with suppliers required to take a minimum delivery of 30t.

Payment is deducted from the milk cheque, spread over four equal instalments.

Silage prices

Despite the continued wet weather, sales of silage across NI appear to have slowed when compared with the volumes being traded in late 2017.

Current prices being paid on pit silage range from £35/t to £40/t. Reports indicate that there are greater volumes of silage moving in the north and east regions compared with the west.

Round-bale silage is moving at prices of £26 to £30 per bale, which can include delivery depending on the locations of the buyer and vendor.

There is little change to the price of straw with reports of 8x4x4 bales imported from Britain trading upwards from £100 per bale. Round bales of straw are moving at prices of £30 to £40 including delivery.

Concentrate use

With silage generally short, and milk and beef prices relatively strong, agri-merchants report increased sales of concentrate feed.

Total concentrate feed delivered on farm during the first 10 months of 2017 totalled 1.01m tonnes compared with 903,000t for the same period in 2016.

Land prices

Some early reports on conacre prices indicate that there is strong competition for grazing and silage ground.

Interest is strong from dairy farmers looking to secure additional land for herd expansion and nitrates purposes, while others who have lost land to AD plants are eager to source land to draw down Basic Payment entitlements.

Prices for grazing range from £130 to £180 per acre depending on land quality, with silage ground making £160 to £220. Land prices for arable ground are generally around £150 to £180/acre.