Pig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Buildings supplement
    • February 2025
    • 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • National Pig Awards supplement
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Pig Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • June 2024
    • Innovation supplement 2024
    • Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • Buildings Supplement
    • March 2024
    • Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    • October 2023
    • September 2023
    • Health Supplement
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
Podcast
Pig WorldPig World
  • News
      • Animal Health
      • Breeding
      • Business
      • Environment
      • EU
      • Food Safety
      • Housing
      • Marketing
      • NPA
      • National Pig Awards
      • New Products
      • Nutrition
      • People
      • Pig Fair
      • Politics
      • Training & Education
      • Welfare
  • Features
    • Animal Health
    • Breeding
    • Environment
    • Farm Visits
    • Herd Recording
    • Housing
    • Marketing
    • Nutrition
    • Products
    • Training
  • Comment
    • AHDB Pork
    • Chris Fogden
    • Dennis Bridgeford
    • Peter Crichton
    • Red Robin
    • Veterinary View
    • Zoe Davies, NPA
  • Numbers
  • Pig Prices
  • Magazines
    1. May 2025
    2. April 2025
    3. March 2025
    4. 2025 Buildings supplement
    5. February 2025
    6. 2025 Nutrition Supplement
    7. January 2025
    8. December 2024
    9. November 2024
    10. National Pig Awards supplement
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. August 2024
    14. 2024 Pig Health supplement
    15. July 2024
    16. June 2024
    17. Innovation supplement 2024
    18. Pig & Poultry Fair Guide 2024
    19. May 2024
    20. April 2024
    21. Buildings Supplement
    22. March 2024
    23. Pig Nutrition (Beyond Zinc)
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. National Pig Awards Supplement 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. September 2023
    31. Health Supplement
    Featured

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025
    Recent

    May 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    May 1, 2025

    April 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    April 4, 2025

    March 2025 issue of Pig World now available

    March 6, 2025
  • Suppliers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Classified
  • Events
    • Pigs Tomorrow
    • National Pig Awards
LinkedIn X (Twitter)
Pig World
News

NPA expresses concern over rising straw prices

Alistair DriverBy Alistair DriverOctober 12, 20173 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

The NPA has expressed concern over the dramatic rise in straw prices in recent months that have resulted in some farmers paying twice as much for their straw as a year ago.

As pig prices continue to move in the wrong direction – the SPP was down another 1.5p last week, dipping below £1.59kg – the cost of straw is going the other way at an alarming rate.

Weekly figures from the British Hay & Straw Merchants’ Association show how prices have soared across the country over the last few months as wet weather has thwarted efforts to produce quality straw, and now stand way ahead of last year’s levels.

For example, in the South West barley straw is quoted at £78/tonne and wheat straw at £73/t this week, increasing £23/t and £30/t respectively in the space of just three weeks. A year ago, barley was quoted at £40/t and wheat at £35/t.

In the North East, barley straw is now quoted a £68/t and wheat at £60, having risen steadily in price during the autumn. These prices are £23/t and £18/t ahead of last year.

The Central Midlands barley price of £60/t is £20 up on the end of August figure and nearly double last year’s quote, while the wheat price of £50/t compares with £30/t a year ago.

It is a similar story, to varying degrees, right across the regions, with current prices nowhere less than £11 ahead of October 2016 and, typically £15-20 higher.

The outlook isn’t good. According to BHSMA, there is very little straw on the market even at the increased prices.

Constant wet weather

Yorkshire pig farmer Phil Stephenson, chairman of the NPA’s producer group, said: “The problem is the constant wet weather has made it hard to get quality straw baled. Poorer quality can lead to mycotoxin issues.

“There is a lot of straw still in the swath and a lot of poor straw in our area. Hence the best comes at a high price.”

NPA chief executive Zoe Davies said: “As pig prices continue to fall, rising straw prices are a concern for indoor and outdoor producers. There just isn’t enough quality straw around and that is pushing up prices across the country. It is a situation that we will be monitoring as the winter months draw in.

“This is being largely driven by the weather. But it also important that, while we support farm the diversification opportunities renewable energy brings, biomass plants don’t push up the price even further.”

Share. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email
Previous ArticleFarming no longer able to support family farms new research shows
Next Article NPA criticises ‘disappointingly thin’ Government response to Brexit report
Alistair Driver

Editor Pig World, group editor Agronomist and Arable Farmer and Farm Contractor. National Pig Association webmaster. Former political editor at Farmers Guardian. Occasional media pundit. Brought up on a Leicestershire farm. Works from a shed in his Oxfordshire garden.

Read Similar Stories

Cranswick announces veterinary review of animal welfare policies

May 20, 2025

Cranswick grows pig production by 14%, as revenue and profits soar

May 20, 2025

EU-UK trade deal – a mixed industry response

May 19, 2025
Latest News

Cranswick announces veterinary review of animal welfare policies

May 20, 2025

Cranswick grows pig production by 14%, as revenue and profits soar

May 20, 2025

EU-UK trade deal – a mixed industry response

May 19, 2025
Sponsored Content

THE GATEKEEPER OF RESPIRATORY HEALTH – MYCOPLASMA HYOPNEUMONIAE (M.HYO)

April 30, 2024

Tackle the root cause of PWD with free diagnostic tests

March 1, 2024
Current Pig Industry jobs
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1740 Norfolk

    • Norfolk
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1739 Devon

    • Devon
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
  • Pig Stockperson – Ref 1738 Co. Fermanagh

    • County Fermanagh
    • Roadhogs Recruitment Ltd.
    • Full Time
GETTING IN TOUCH
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Meet The Editors
  • About Us
  • Email Newsletters
  • Subscribe
  • Reuse permissions
OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
PARTNER EVENTS
RELATED SITES
  • Farmers Weekly
  • Agronomist & Arable Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • National Pig Awards
  • Pigs Tomorrow
  • Poultry News
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.