High demand for best quality straw sees competitive bidding

Demand for standing straw continues to be strong, with the first major auctions in south-west England seeing winter barley straw average £110/acre as livestock farmers seek to restock barns.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt sold 3,500 acres of straw from around Taunton, Somerset, over two evenings last week (28-29 June).

Auctioneer Tom Mellor said there had been competitive bidding throughout both sales, with only a couple of lots of lighter spring crops failing to make their reserve.

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The rest of the lots were looking like they should produce “weighty” crops in terms of the straw, with the potential to yield 2t/acre or more.

All of the buyers were farmers looking to use the straw themselves, he said, so the sales tended to result in higher prices than would typically be seen in areas where straw is bought by merchants who need to make their own margin.

The two sales saw winter barley straw averaging £110/acre, with winter wheat averaging £84/acre at the sale covering east of Taunton, and £95/acre at the west of Taunton sale.

Across the two sales, some averages were higher than in 2020, while some were lower – with prices variable depending on the quality of the crop and location of the farm.

 “Last year, we had a higher proportion of lesser-yielding straw crops, following the awful winter season,” said Mr Mellor.

 “The weight of the straw crops is greater [this year], perhaps with 50% more yield, and also we had more winter crops on offer.”