Round bales getting scarcer?

FODDER stocks on Galway farms are reported to be ‘well up’ as compared to this time last year – but saturated fields are the main worry as farmers tentatively plan for letting stock out on grass over the coming weeks.

The benign weather conditions that prevailed through the late autumn right up to the week before Christmas, resulted in a huge fodder saving on most farms as compared to the same period in 2012.

Teagasc Regional Manager, Brendan Heneghan, told the Farming Tribune that many farmers in 2012 had stock housed from September onwards, making huge inroads into their fodder stocks.

“Our generally dry and mild conditions last Autumn, meant that very little silage was used up through the September/October period. A good start is half the battle and that’s certainly been the case during this feeding season,” said Brendan Heneghan.

He added that the good weather of last summer and autumn had also allowed many farmers to take a second cut of silage to further supplement their stocks.

“One caveat I would like to add is that there are a number of farmers, especially in the South and East Galway areas who have been water locked over recent weeks following the heavy rains and storms.

“Their grazing ground will be very badly affected by this flooding and those people will be under pressure in terms of feeding their stock into the late spring period,” said Brendan Heneghan.

A number of farmers who contacted the Farming Tribune said that while they hoped ‘to have just about enough’ silage to see them through, they didn’t expect to see too many bales left around yards or fields by the end of April.

There is a very steady demand for silage with bales making from €25 to €30, while haylage and hay bales are going €30 to €35 apiece, with small square bales of hay selling for €3 to €4 each.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.