“Probably the best straw trade we have ever seen in a sale,” was auctioneer John Read’s summary of Carter Jonas’s 61st annual January Newbury hay and straw sale.

Reporting prices that bucked the trend of recent auction trade, John attributes the success of lots at the Carter Jonas sale in part to the close proximity to motorways and major routes of the selling farms, giving easy and fast access for buyers travelling from further afield.

He thought the best quality straw was destined for the horse market, most likely racing stables of which the south of England has no shortage.

Some 150 lots totalling nearly 3,000 tonnes were on offer on farms throughout southern England during the sale at Newbury Rugby Club on January 19.

Josh Hosier, of Shalbourne, Marlborough, topped the sale for wheat straw with his MF2160 bales achieving £26.88 per bale, equating £90 per tonne. This was closely followed by John Liddiard Farms, of Great Shefford, Hungerford, selling MF2170 bales at £28.75 per bale. Big bale wheat straw ranged from £60 to £90 per tonne to average £73 per tonne overall. The wide range of prices reflected the varying quality on offer but the average was slightly higher than the December Newbury sale.     

Demand for barley straw was improved and, whilst the south is currently experiencing a mild winter, trade has firmed. Compton Beauchamp Estates sold their Quadrant bales of Spring Barley straw for £28.13 per bale (£94 per tonne). Big bale barley straw averaged £78 per tonne.

Trade for hay was very flat due to the mild winter, with a number of lots unsold.  However, some excellent seed hay in MF185 bales from new vendor Dominic Uhart, of Terrick, near Aylesbury, sold for £86 per bale (£245 per tonne).  

The next Carter Jonas hay and straw sale is on March 1 and entries are invited.