There is a diverse range of silage cutting prices being quoted by agricultural contractors around the country as ‘silage season’ gets underway in many areas.
Typical prices are between âĴ90 and âĴ100 per acre for pit silage (clamp silage), excluding VAT, while baled silage is showing wide variation depending on what you want done and whether or not the farmer supplies the plastic.
For bales, it stretches anywhere up to âĴ12.00 for the full service of mowing, rowing, baling and wrapping with plastic included.
Beginning with the more northerly counties, a contractor in Cavan is currently pricing pit silage at between âĴ90 and âĴ100 plus VAT per acre. Bales are priced at âĴ6.20-âĴ6.30 plus VAT per bale for baling and wrapping, while plastic will also be supplied for a total of âĴ9.00 per bale.
In Monaghan, a local contractor is quoting for mowing, rowing, baling and wrapping at âĴ9.50 (plus VAT) per bale excluding plastic. With plastic supplied, the price is âĴ11.50.
In Co. Galway, a baling contractor is quoting âĴ12.00 all in – with plastic included.
In Kildare, one contractor quoted a price of âĴ100 including VAT per acre for pit silage. He also offers a hay baling service; he charges âĴ4.00 per (round) bale for that (including VAT).
In Tipperary, a baling contractor is currently quoting âĴ7.75 per bale for baling and wrapping, excluding VAT and excluding plastic.
Image source: Shane Casey
Meanwhile, a Carlow contracting company has set a price of âĴ95 plus VAT per acre for pit silage.
A sample Kilkenny contracting price received was âĴ97 plus VAT per acre for pit silage. The same contractor charges âĴ5.80 per bale plus VAT to row up and bale silage.
Finally, in Co. Clare, an operator using wagons is charging âĴ115 per acre including VAT for pit silage. The same contractor is charging âĴ10.00 per bale, including VAT, for mowing, rowing, baling and wrapping. Farmers must supply their own plastic.
Image source: Shane Casey
