Farmers have been advised to consider prioritising summer feed contracts against the backdrop of potential turbulence in the raw material markets, one agricultural retailer has said.
According to Mole Valley Farmers with milk and grain prices falling some farmers could be waiting and hoping for a more settled outlook before committing to contracts.
But Daniel McCreadie from Mole Valley Farmers has said that feed prices could also increase.
“There was a massive cost rise at the beginning of the Ukraine war, but over the last six months, that has fallen and now stabilised,” McCreadie said.
“Unfortunately, the global situation and the ongoing conflict with Russia means there is still the possibility of big price surges at any point.”
Mole Valley Farmers said it employs traders who monitor data on the stability of the grain corridor, the situation in Russia, the European Union’s position on Ukrainian exports, post Covid-19 currency fluctuations and the UK and worldwide grain supplies.
“With the falls we have seen this winter, the upsides on pricing now heavily outweigh the downsides,” McCreadie said.
‘Filling the forage gap’
Mole Valley Farmers said that last year’s dry summer and high fertiliser and feed prices have made it challenging for farmers to produce enough feed, with many dipping into their winter stocks throughout summer and autumn.
A quick-growing catch crop could be the answer to “filling the forage gap”, according to the Mole Valley Farmers.
The agricultural retailer said there is a wide range of brassicas and catch crops that provide nutritious and cost-effective feed for cattle and sheep.
“Brassica crops can extend the grazing season, increasing output per hectare and reducing the costs of labour, machinery and housing,” it said.
“As well as being an outstanding feed and a valuable break crop between grass reseeds, brassicas can help restore soil health in both arable and grazing systems.”
A farmer’s crop choice should be based on the number and type of livestock they are feeding, when the land is available for sowing and when the crop will be fed, it said.
