Fodder Crisis

Dakota Dan

jaymla627 wrote: »

Neighbour stopped us on road yesterday looking to buy a 30 acre pit I have on a outfarm, nearly out of silage with 100 odd milking cows and no hope of getting them out for at least two weeks on a very wet farm, I'd say panic stations will start to set in on a lot of places this week re getting silage bought in

Did you sell it to him?

jaymla627

I don't sell silage as a rule always try to have a buffer pit in the yard of 30 acres will be needed for myself anyways the way things are looking

Dakota Dan

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Can never understand lads that are around searching for silage in March. I have introduced ration from end of January. It is the same cost no matter which you choose. Lads hunting around for a few bales or a bit of pit silage are not running a business

I can't understand it either, it's fairly simple to figure out how long the silage will last and if done early you can take action. A few kg's of ration is a lot less hassle than scouring the country for bales that could be sh1te and paying half the value of the silage to transport them.

whelan2

Dakota Dan wrote: »

I can't understand it either, it's fairly simple to figure out how long the silage will last and if done early you can take action. A few kg's of ration is a lot less hassle than scouring the country for bales that could be sh1te and paying half the value of the silage to transport them.

If you reread the above posts a few lads would have had their cows out full-time at this stage other years.

TwoOldBoots

Got about 5 more phone calls about the bales I'd sold since. I had to take down the ad from the local shop. I could hear the stress in their voces, you'd feel bad for them. I hope the weather warms up soon and we get a bit of growth

Bass Reeves

whelan2 wrote: »

If you reread the above posts a few lads would have had their cows out full-time at this stage other years.

Yes I agree whelan. But 4-6 weeks ago they have expected to have them out for a few hours a day but most were unable to do that. So they should have started to take corrective action. Introducing ration even 2-3 weeks agod to make up 50% of diet would have got them to end of March.

I will reduce silage further and use it for roughage from end of next week unless there is a serious pick up. As Dawg posted with dairy cows you need a reserve.

Timmaay

Thought I'd have some bit to sell, but after horsing through a serious amount the last 2wks with everything back in, decent few April and May calvers who I'd expect to have out on grass before calving, but not looking likely at this rate, so could end up emptying all the pits of silage which is nearly unheard of on this farm!

GrasstoMilk

jaymla627 wrote: »

Neighbour stopped us on road yesterday looking to buy a 30 acre pit I have on a outfarm, nearly out of silage with 100 odd milking cows and no hope of getting them out for at least two weeks on a very wet farm, I'd say panic stations will start to set in on a lot of places this week re getting silage bought in

Did you do the neighbourly thing and help him out?
It was a very wet autumn and a lot of herds were housed early and now a late spring too.
We should have had a good bit of silage over but won't have now. Ive enough bales to see us into April so we'll be grand. Heifers going out tomorrow that will save a nice few bales. Breeding isn't far around the corner. Things are turning around I bit I think. Seeing nice regrowths on grazed paddocks the last few days

mahoney_j

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

Did you do the neighbourly thing and help him out?
It was a very wet autumn and a lot of herds were housed early and now a late spring too.
We should have had a good bit of silage over but won't have now. Ive enough bales to see us into April so we'll be grand. Heifers going out tomorrow that will save a nice few bales. Breeding isn't far around the corner. Things are turning around I bit I think. Seeing nice regrowths on grazed paddocks the last few days

No point selling yourself short ,lot of lads need to ask themselves long hard questions after this winter ,too many cows ,banking on early spring and late autumn every year is utter madness and to then go begging for silage from neighbours etc whom they may of burnt bridges with taking land etc won’t work as for regrowths there’s frig all there yet and I’ve 50 units n and slurry out ,places grazed are brighter shade green that’s it ,yesterday was first kind day we had and lots more needed .either way now anyone starting second round late March early April is going to be in a bad place .weather is giving more cold and possibly easterly winds and snow at end of week ...

jaymla627

GrasstoMilk wrote: »

jaymla627 wrote: »

Neighbour stopped us on road yesterday looking to buy a 30 acre pit I have on a outfarm, nearly out of silage with 100 odd milking cows and no hope of getting them out for at least two weeks on a very wet farm, I'd say panic stations will start to set in on a lot of places this week re getting silage bought in

Did you do the neighbourly thing and help him out?
It was a very wet autumn and a lot of herds were housed early and now a late spring too.
We should have had a good bit of silage over but won't have now. Ive enough bales to see us into April so we'll be grand. Heifers going out tomorrow that will save a nice few bales. Breeding isn't far around the corner. Things are turning around I bit I think. Seeing nice regrowths on grazed paddocks the last few days

It's a pit of milkers silage 78% dmd 15%pr .86ufl its rocket fuel, look after my own cabbage patch is my main priority, we gave a lad 200 ton of silage in 2013 who was badly stuck and never seen a penny for it yet so, I'd rather leave it in the pit

GrasstoMilk

mahoney_j wrote: »

No point selling yourself short ,lot of lads need to ask themselves long hard questions after this winter ,too many cows ,banking on early spring and late autumn every year is utter madness and to then go begging for silage from neighbours etc whom they may of burnt bridges with taking land etc won’t work as for regrowths there’s frig all there yet and I’ve 50 units n and slurry out ,places grazed are brighter shade green that’s it ,yesterday was first kind day we had and lots more needed .either way now anyone starting second round late March early April is going to be in a bad place .weather is giving more cold and possibly easterly winds and snow at end of week ...

Grass is going to be scarce for the first 10 days of April alright. But it won't last forever. It was the same 2 years ago v slow spring and then grass went bonkers from mid April onwards. We'll be in at night for the next while to try keep first round going until 10th April.
Not one bit worried though, it is what it is so just roll with it. We have feed and grass will come

Keepgrowing

Feeding 100% bought in silage ATM despite the fact that we've 300 tonne of our own pit and 120hi quality wraps on hand.

The stuff we have is far too good for dry cows so buying silage for them. The silage that's being delivered was secured last November.

Any guys in the fodder scarce areas made some slip up by not shipping more silage out of the East when they had the chance. There's some amount of fodder moving around here and none going too far. I don't think sellers need go far for customers.

On the point of buying silage, we buy silage every winter even if our pits are full. It's simply economics. I cannot make dry cow silage as cheap as it can be bought, a year like this comes we use our reserves and buy cheaply next year. What's going to happen is lads will have empty pits, will fill them, there'll be no meadows for letting but they'll sell the pits at below cost. It's a reliable as time itself.

Keepgrowing

I was asked €28 for 4x4 bales of straw yesterday and he was serious. I just made other arrangements. What a dik

Waffletraktor

Keepgrowing wrote: »

I was asked €28 for 4x4 bales of straw yesterday and he was serious. I just made other arrangements. What a dik

For running a business?

Who2

Keepgrowing wrote: »

I was asked €28 for 4x4 bales of straw yesterday and he was serious. I just made other arrangements. What a dik

You should have bought last November, it’s simple economis

Reggie.

Keepgrowing wrote: »

I was asked €28 for 4x4 bales of straw yesterday and he was serious. I just made other arrangements. What a dik

So you just want to buy stuff at below cost? when the market is aganist you and there is a shortage you can't exactly complain about lads having a hefty price on things. You should have made earlier arrangments

yewtree

Keepgrowing wrote: »

I was asked €28 for 4x4 bales of straw yesterday and he was serious. I just made other arrangements. What a dik

That's cheap up here😂😂; you will have to send on the number

Keepgrowing

Reggie. wrote: »

So you just want to buy stuff at below cost? when the market is aganist you and there is a shortage you can't exactly complain about lads having a hefty price on things. You should have made earlier arrangments

Oh, I'm not complaining. I just bought elsewhere. I'm sure he got it sold. Bought elsewhere for €20 a bale

This guy comes here in s hurry at times looking for a replacement calf when he looses one. He's always been treated fairly, however that will change. He may leave empty handed next time or pay €100 over the odds, his decision

Keepgrowing

yewtree wrote: »

That's cheap up here😂😂; you will have to send on the number

What's straw making in your area

Keepgrowing

Reggie. wrote: »

So you just want to buy stuff at below cost? when the market is aganist you and there is a shortage you can't exactly complain about lads having a hefty price on things. You should have made earlier arrangments

I don't make the price I mearly decide if I'm prepared to pay it or not.

yewtree

Keepgrowing wrote: »

What's straw making in your area

30- 35 delivered is what I am hearing variable quality. I bought straw last August €18 delivered from a lad we buy grain and straw from every year, didn't have to come to far.

L1985

I posted here about selling silage on donedeal and getting v little response and it’s excellent silage. A guy came said he’d take the lot took 2loads then disappeared.....sold to another guy last week but have had5 calls since from different guys. Lot of lads seem v stuck. We are ok anyway as I’ve budgeted until may as we would always be conscious to keep a reserve. I feel for some guys though- we have all made wrong calls and it’s been a tough winter. Weather seems to be better here anyway-perfect growing conditions today.

ganmo

can't get at our bales since the snow, only for having hay in the shed we'd be buggered

K.G.

Keepgrowing wrote: »

Feeding 100% bought in silage ATM despite the fact that we've 300 tonne of our own pit and 120hi quality wraps on hand.

The stuff we have is far too good for dry cows so buying silage for them. The silage that's being delivered was secured last November.

Any guys in the fodder scarce areas made some slip up by not shipping more silage out of the East when they had the chance. There's some amount of fodder moving around here and none going too far. I don't think sellers need go far for customers.

On the point of buying silage, we buy silage every winter even if our pits are full. It's simply economics. I cannot make dry cow silage as cheap as it can be bought, a year like this comes we use our reserves and buy cheaply next year. What's going to happen is lads will have empty pits, will fill them, there'll be no meadows for letting but they'll sell the pits at below cost. It's a reliable as time itself.

I used to operate like that but am pulling away from it because its adding little to you.its really difficult to get silage of any decent quality for sale and since quotas are gone there is no time in the cows season when she can be parked on handy silage.she is either mlking now or getting ready to milk and find its ration id buy now above all other feeds

Gawddawggonnit

Jesus wept.


The arrogance and sense of entitlement expressed in this thread is shocking.

Reggie.

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

Jesus wept.


The arrogance and sense of entitlement expressed in this thread is shocking.

?

Never wrestle with pigs

I've plenty of straw so I might put up an add in the local coop to swap for bales of silage. That would be fair enough wouldn't it?

Westernrock

Keepgrowing wrote: »

What's straw making in your area

Straw is €37 for 4x4 collected and hay €45 in Sligo ☹️ Biggest cost is the transport and paying the dealers their cut..... 🀔

patsy_mccabe

Gawddawggonnit wrote: »

Jesus wept.


The arrogance and sense of entitlement expressed in this thread is shocking.

Reggie.

Westernrock wrote: »

Straw is €37 for 4x4 collected and hay €45 in Sligo ☹️ Biggest cost is the transport and paying the dealers their cut..... 🀔

Jaysus

wrangler

Reggie. wrote: »

Jaysus

.....siwngs and roundabouts

Guys are probably happy to get it, it's only to finish out the year...same as the farmer that paid €41/bale for the silage, as Keepgrowing said most years you'll get it cheaper than you'd make it

RedPeppers

Have enough silage here for another 4 weeks so should be ok.

It’s no wonder some lads have loads of fodder when cows graze till late nov and out again early Feb compared to others that have to face a 6 month winter.

Bass Reeves

RedPeppers wrote: »

Have enough silage here for another 4 weeks so should be ok.

It’s no wonder some lads have loads of fodder when cows graze till late nov and out again early Feb compared to others that have to face a 6 month winter.

For 4 of those months grass is often less than 50% of the diet.

BigSteaks

Let 68 bales go here today at €36 a bale collected in yard. He will collect when wanted. Cheque handed over. He is looking for another 100.

Asked would he be selling any stock. No he says, this is the time to be buying. Buying a 100 dairy calves and 40 suckler weanings next week or two he says before prices take off.

Muckit

There there. That can't have been easy on you. Mind yourself

Mtx

Big bales of straw make £80 in Tyrone
Silage bales of good quality are £30 minimum

BigSteaks

Muckit wrote: »

There there. That can't have been easy on you. Mind yourself

It was very easy decision, good neighbour and he will be back next year. His gone with 12 tonight and the weather here would go through you. Say himself and his stock are happy tonight.

Zero growth here and cant see stock getting on for minimum 2 more weeks.

whelan2

Oh drawing silage bales on Monday going a long distance , will find out what your man is buying them for, he bought them over the phone without looking at them at all

Markcheese

As grass growth and grazing conditions pick up in the south and south east, will we see much fodder heading west...? Lads forced to put stock out in unsuitable conditions will have wrecked fields and no silage to make for next winter, leaving them doubly feiced next year....

tanko

Average to good quality bales making €25-28 around here. Delivery would be extra.

blackdog1

Markcheese wrote:

As grass growth and grazing conditions pick up in the south and south east, will we see much fodder heading west...? Lads forced to put stock out in unsuitable conditions will have wrecked fields and no silage to make for next winter, leaving them doubly feiced next year....

Grass growing slowly on paddocks grazed 2 weeks ago before the snow and got urea mid-late Feb.

Mooooo

Markcheese wrote: »

As grass growth and grazing conditions pick up in the south and south east, will we see much fodder heading west...? Lads forced to put stock out in unsuitable conditions will have wrecked fields and no silage to make for next winter, leaving them doubly feiced next year....

I doubt it, a lot of lads would have cows out fulltime other years, hardly a cow in a field by day in a lot of parts this year, a lot of extra feed going in with lads using their reserves which many will want to build up again this year. Was hoping to not have to buy in maize this year as switching to all spring but tbh id say I will as will have extra reseeding to do as well

kk.man

If this weather keeps up we will see a fodder crisis nationwide.

mengele

kk.man wrote: »

If this weather keeps up we will see a fodder crisis nationwide.

Plenty of it down sout here in cork. A neighbour here has in excess of 500 bales for sale. He was keeping them till the end of Feb hoping he could charge extra for them. Has been no demand for them.

kk.man

mengele wrote: »

kk.man wrote: »

If this weather keeps up we will see a fodder crisis nationwide.

Plenty of it down sout here in cork. A neighbour here has in excess of 500 bales for sale. He was keeping them till the end of Feb hoping he could charge extra for them. Has been no demand for them.

With the large herds of Dairy cows and the tegasc early turn out dates the extra fodder won't be long running out.
Not many hetds out around the South East. I have neighbours with 100 plus cow numbers. It takes some feeding to keep them going and no grass outside.

20silkcut

Neighbour of mine getting ten tons of pit silage delivered for €500 only lasting him 3 or 4 days.
He has all his own gear and gave the whole summer last year doing bales hard to credit he has none left.!!

Muckit

20silkcut wrote: »

Neighbour of mine getting ten tons of pit silage delivered for €500 only lasting him 3 or 4 days.
He has all his own gear and gave the whole summer last year doing bales hard to credit he has none left.!!

If he was calving cows all year he'd be called inefficient. Funny those rules dont apply to silage!

Mooooo

Was talking to vet there and he said a few lads out of silage and have been buying for a while but harder to get, here in cork

Who2

Theres a fair few lads buying around me. i know of one lad travelling daily 90 miles round trip with a tractor drawing pit silage.

GrasstoMilk

We have heifers out with a week now, not ideal but we need what silage and straw we have for the cows and calves.
We're usually out fulltime with all stock at this stage, cows are only out by day when ever the weather allows.
We should have had heaps of silage left over if we had a normal autumn and spring but it will all be gone soon. Using 2016 straw and silage now