Tama Assist Managing Straw Availability in Climate Extremes
Whether you’re using straw for livestock bedding, in feed formulations, or selling on, the last few seasons have shown how unpredictable straw supply can be. Dry summers and prolonged wet winters have left many farmers facing increasingly steep prices and with insufficient straw for winter and the lambing/calving season.
Despite tough climate predictions continuing for UK farmers, many are finding ways to adapt and manage straw usage. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
If wheat is your main crop but you’re facing poor harvests, one option is simply to sell straw bales at a higher price. This can be a viable strategy in a seller’s market. Of course, straw prices still need to support ongoing relationships with stakeholders who rely on you year after year.
Another option that can generate income (and maintain relationships with your buyers) is growing drought tolerant grains whose straw can still fetch a good price. Crops like hybrid rye, triticale and spring barley all perform well in dry conditions and produce long straw. That said, wet conditions can still cause lodging (bent stems), as with wheat, so timing the harvest and choosing quality straw baling products are vital.
Beyond traditional cereals, there’s growing demand for biofuel crops.
Miscanthus (commonly known as elephant grass), for example, is becoming an increasingly popular “niche crop” and is highly drought resistant.
Maize is another biofuel option that’s steadily gaining traction. However, drought resistant maize varieties are the best choice, especially for farmers in areas like the Midlands that were hardest hit by recent droughts.
Buyers, there are also several ways to safeguard your straw supply and mitigate costs. Lock in orders early with trusted suppliers and follow regional crop forecasts to anticipate price spikes.
Another straw management aspect is ensuring the current straw stocks last. Poor quality baling products can lead to failed bales. Torn netwrap or weak baling twine can cause straw bales to lose shape and fall apart during handling, storage and transport.
This is where using high quality baling products makes a big difference. Top quality netwrap helps maintain the shape and density, and provides a tough barrier to withstand rough handling and weather; even when stored outside. Using a bale netwrap like TamaNet+ Edge To Edge® will cover the full surface of the bale (edge to edge) to confer significant long term protection, while TamaNet+ Royal is best for high pressure crops like short straw.
Other straw management options include improving straw storage (under cover) and supplementing straw with alternative bedding options such as sawdust and shavings. Many dairy farmers also use sand, though it requires more work to maintain stalls and equipment.
Climate extremes are beyond our control. But planning harvest times and diversifying straw crops are solid strategies to supplement and stabilise straw supplies in a tough market. Smart straw storage and using the right baling products can further optimise the straw quality.
And if you need help planning a straw management strategy? Ask TAMA Assist for advice.
