Mid July, South Norfolk
Some moisture in the air, no sunshine and no heat, just the odd combine moving in the country, certainly nothing locally. Yet another contrast to last year when people had finished harvest in its entirety by the end of the month. So after a year of scarce supplies and even scarier prices, what are the prospects for this coming season?
Well for a start there is a lot more corn in the ground across the UK. After a cold dry Spring, we had the moisture and heat to kickstart Spring drilling and revitalise Autumn/Winter sown crops. Prospects are good. On one light land farm that I deal with, the contrast is huge. Last year the baler driver stood in a recently combined field and asked where the swath was! This year the same field will yield a huge amount of straw. Speaking to merchants across the country the talk is the same, the straw is there, if the weather plays ball and the choppers don’t come on, then there should be enough for everyone.
A huge influence in todays straw market are the four straw burning powers stations in the East of England. Their holding sites are empty and they need to restock, so expect a strong early trade whilst they secure 15 months worth of straw, to build up stock levels.
Stock farmers will also be looking to acquire early supplies, but not at any price. After the last 12 months expect them to buy as and when needed.
The consensus of opinion is that some of those selling in the swath are asking too much money, leaving the merchant/baling contractor taking too much risk for a product that may well drop in price.
So after a strong early trade, as we move into harvest and hopefully a settled period of decent dry weather, expect an easing of prices and a collective sigh of relief from the livestock industry.
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