With UK wheat drillings having been reduced considerably by the wet autumn and spring, quality wheat straw for bedding will be at a premium. With prices considerably higher than last year, faced with catchy weather conditions the use of preservative such as Baler’s Choice could be a prudent option to ensure top quality dust and mould free bales that can realise the current high values.
Read more: High values means it pays to preserve strawWith the total UK wheat area down 9.6% at 1.56 million hectares compared to 2023 (AHDB), hardest hit have been some of the UK’s main livestock areas. In the north west of England plantings are down 20%, while the south west and Humberside is down 14%, East Midlands (-12%) and Scotland (-8%).
Figures from the British Hay & Straw Merchants Association show that barley and wheat straw prices have reacted accordingly and at an average of £83 and £90/tonne ex farm* respectively, peaking at £90 and £120 in the South West, they are considerably up on last year’s values.
While primarily used to preserve hay quality and avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion when baling at moisture contents above 15%, Baler’s Choice is just as effective in straw, especially in crops where the straw is still green while the heads are fit. If baled, green straw can result in wadding and moulds developing. The myco-toxins present in a dusty or mouldy bale can be a major challenge to the respiratory system and in livestock can result in respiratory problems and loss of performance.
Trials in straw bales baled at 21% found that if untreated, mould and yeast levels rose from 75 and 47 CFU’s/gram respectively, to 14,000,000 and 11,000,000 after being stored for just two months.
CFU levels in baled straw at 21% after two months
| CFU/gram Untreated Treated Before After Before After | ||
| Mould | 75 14,000,000 | 77 1,300 |
| Yeast | 47 11,000,000 | 40 100 |
Baler’s Choice preservative is non-corrosive with a Ph of 6, meaning it’s safe to handle and will not corrode machinery. Designed specifically for hay and straw, Baler’s Choice ideal formulation ensures that hay and straw can be safely baled at higher moisture contents.
Research conducted at Cranfield University has found that moisture contents can fluctuate by as much as 5% along a 100m swath, so while a crop may look dry, this often may not consistently be the case. Due to the Baler’s Choice applicator automatically monitoring the moisture content of the crop as it enters the chamber and applying Baler’s Choice accordingly, this avoids hot spots being created, ensures a consistent product and the ability to add value to bales and achieve a premium product, from as little £1.43 per bale**.
Baler’s Choice and Harvest Tec applicator systems are distributed in the UK by Harvest Tec, working in conjunction with Carrs Billington and Monarch Agri.
* BHSMA values for week commencing July 28 2024
** Based on an 80×90 bale size
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