Straw Market Update and Outlook: A Rising Cost for Livestock Farmers
2025听丑补谤惫别蝉迟听
As well as impacting yields of silage and hay, the dry weather across 2025 has also听impacted听straw yields, with reports highlighting听regional differences in straw availability and pricing. Lower forage yields going into winter have not been helped by the dry summer affecting grass growth which has led to several farmers across the country having to feed their winter forage stocks earlier. This has led to a reduced supply of straw going into winter and contributed to straw prices.听
Ahead of winter housing, AHDB reported at the end of September, that straw prices had increased by 19% for barley straw with an 18% increase for wheat straw in comparison to September 2024.听听
2026听prices听
As straw supplies tighten as winter progresses and as we approach calving and lambing season it is likely that prices will rise. It is advised that anyone who is yet to source straw ahead of calving or听is looking to have听a shortfall in straw contact their听straw suppliers and merchants to access availability and discuss straw requirements.听
Early January auction sales of fodder have across the country exceeded vendor expectations with several markets reporting straw supplies falling short of buyer鈥檚 requirements. Aberdeen听and听Northern Marts,听Thainstone听centre first fodder sale of the year听sold 460 round bales of inside spring barley straw to 拢14.40 per bale听averaging 拢12.48 (+拢1.06 from 2024). Outside spring barley straw (200听round听bales sold) realised 拢10听per bale听and averaged听拢8 (-拢2.37 from 2024).听听
Round bales of spring barley straw at听Monmouthshire鈥檚 first sale on 13/01 sold to 拢37 per bale.听听
For week ending 11 January figures from the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association (BHSMA) show GB straw prices for big square bales of barley straw to be up by 拢18 per bale and big bales wheat straw to be up by 拢14 per bale from 2024 levels.听Figures from the British Hay and Straw Merchants Association (BHSMA) show straw prices for the week ending 18 January for southwest Scotland at 拢90/t for big squares of barley straw and 拢85/t for big square bales of wheat straw.听While prices in southeast England for big squares of barley straw and big square bales of wheat straw to be sitting at 拢85/t and 拢70/t.听听
Straw听prices and听cost of听production听
Straw is a significant听input听cost听to livestock farmers, especially for upland suckler herds. For beef suckler herds, AHDB estimate that bedding costs make up 18% of variable costs and 5% of all costs. With straw prices听reportedly approx.听20% higher ahead of winter in September compared with 2024 price levels, it is听anticipated听that prices will rise.听Remember听straw price increases will be reflected in livestock cost of production听and听ultimately affect听net margin.听听
Buying early or during the main harvest period is likely to reduce the cost of straw.听听
Managing straw supplies听听
- Ensure straw is stored well -听15-20% of a soft centred听round听bale can be in the last 4鈥欌��,听meaning if it is very weathered, then听a large proportion听of the bale is of little use as bedding.听
- Minimise waste 鈥� scrape feed stance听and a听having a step to听minimise straw being dragged onto the feed stance听and scraping that area听not bedded听it can reduce straw usage by 30%. Also ensure water troughs are not leaking.听
- Improve ventilation -听creating a dryer atmosphere will use less bedding,听as well as听improve livestock health.听
- Bedding system 鈥撎齊olling out straw bales uses less straw than simply taking the nets off and allowing cattle to self-bed.听听
- Straw alternatives 鈥� consider use of alternatives such as wood-based products or rape-straw to create an effective base layer.听
- 听Ensure only productive stock are taken through winter 鈥� scan breeding stock early and sell culls.听听听
Sarah Balfour, Beef Consultant,听Sarah.Balfour@sac.co.uk听听
Posted by SAC Consulting on 19/01/2026
