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Straw market outlook
February 2026
Key points
- A very dry spring and summer meant variable straw yields across the country, leading to supply issues in winter 2025
- Straw and hay prices are continuing to increase during the beginning of 2026. Livestock farmers will need to budget for higher bedding costs
- Wet weather at the start of 2026, tight straw supplies, reduced cropping areas and high contracting costs mean straw prices may stay elevated through 2026
Wheat straw
Tight supplies of straw carried on through 2025, with reduced cropping areas and a dry summer adding strain to the market.
Straw prices were lower in the first half of 2025; however prices began to rise through 2025 due to supply concerns and dry weather.
Wheat straw prices peaked at £82/t for big bales in December 2025 and 20% increase year on year.
Going into 2026, wheat straw prices have reached £92/t as of 8 February 2026. Straw prices are continuing to increase due to supply constraints and increasing demand due to wet weather.
Figure 1. Straw and hay prices 2020-2025
Source: AHDB
The line graph in Figure 1 shows prices for big bale hay (blue line), big square baled barley straw (black line) and big square baled wheat straw (green line). While all are increasing in 2025, big bale hay prices are rising much more than the others.
The Early Bird Survey (EBS) of planting intentions shows a small increase in wheat planting for harvest 2026; however areas of both winter and spring barley are expected to be lower.
Autumn drilling conditions were generally good in 2025. However there have been extremely wet conditions over winter and the early part of 2026, which may impact spring drilling and growing conditions.
Spring-sown crops are also more susceptible to spring and summer weather, especially dry conditions as seen in 2025; this can make straw yields more variable.
Barley straw
Barley and wheat straw prices typically track each other closely, a trend that continued in 2025.
Barley straw has a small premium due to its higher quality and more limited supply. Spring barley area is predicted to be down 15% in 2026 according to the EBS, while winter barley is down 1%.
Barley straw prices peaked at £94/t in December 2025, due to supply concerns over the winter. Prices have continued to increase into the early weeks of 2026: £102/t for barley straw and £92/t for wheat straw (as of 08/02/25).
With increasing demand for bedding and forage over the remainder of winter, and tightening supplies due to a dry summer last harvest, continued upward pressure on prices is likely.
Hay
Hay prices soared in 2025. Prices are up 83% year-on-year in December 2025, due to restricted supply after the dry summer.
With high prices and limited hay stocks, businesses may look to feeding straw as a bulking ingredient instead of hay; this impacts on demand for straw bales and subsequently prices.
Contracting costs
Contractor pricing has increased again into 2025, despite key input prices stabilising or easing.
Data from the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) shows that contracting prices for baling increased again into 2025, while some wrapping prices decreased slightly since the sharp increases seen in 2024. This is an added reason why the prices are at the current levels.
Table 1. Contracting baler prices between 2021 and 2025 (£ per bale)
| Baling | Size | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small conventional | 0.78 | 0.88 | 0.94 | 1.13 | 1.14 | |
| 80 × 90 cm | 4.00 | 4.67 | 4.67 | 4.66 | 4.72 | |
| 120 × 70 cm | 5.04 | 5.84 | 5.89 | 5.89 | 5.93 | |
| 120 × 90 cm | 6.21 | 6.79 | 7.11 | 7.13 | 7.52 | |
| 120 ×130 cm | 7.83 | 8.06 | 8.08 | 8.09 | 8.78 | |
| Round 1.2 m | 3.35 | 3.84 | 4.06 | 4.11 | 4.16 | |
| Round 1.5 m | 3.59 | 4.69 | 4.69 | 4.69 | 4.75 | |
| Wrapping | Round 1.2 (six layers) | 6.25 | 6.72 | 7.06 | 7.12 | 7.09 |
| Round 1.2 m (four layers) | 5.00 | 5.51 | 6.08 | 6.17 | 6.23 | |
| Round 1.2 m (without plastic) | - | 2.89 | 3.04 | 3.56 | 3.26 | |
| Square 80 × 90 cm (six layers) | - | - | - | 7.25 | 7.25 | |
| Square 120 × 70 cm (six layers) | 7.62 | 8.33 | 8.33 | 9.58 | 8.87 | |
| Square 120 × 70 cm (four layers) | 6.62 | 8.63 | 8.63 | 8.83 | 7.96 | |
| Combi baling and wrapping (six layers) | - | - | - | 9.50 | 10.96 | |
| Square 120 × 70 cm (without plastic) | - | 3.49 | 3.50 | 3.56 | 3.62 | |
| Bale chasing | 2.64 | 3.06 | 3.06 | 3.11 | 3.25 |
Source: National Association of Agricultural Contractors
Weather
Based on data from UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) the subsurface water storage, both water in the soil and groundwater, is high across much of the east and south-west of the UK.
Following wet weather at the beginning of 2026, which is projected to continue, these areas with high subsurface water storage are reaching capacity. It will take longer for these areas to dry, especially for certain land and soil types, such as heavy soils with high clay content. This could impact spring drilling and growing conditions for crops.
Outlook
Looking to 2026, tight supply conditions will continue through winter. This will continue to have an impact on prices.
Wet conditions during the beginning of the year may affect spring planting, depending on land and soil type. These conditions will also impact whether housed livestock can be turned out: if they remain indoors this will increase demand on straw and hay depending on future weather conditions, further pushing up prices.
It is likely that higher price levels for straw and hay could remain throughout 2026 and future years. This is a result of a combination of factors: supply conditions, cost pressures in crop production, ongoing weather challenges and reduced cropping areas.
Weather will play a critical role during 2026, impacting planting and harvest, and ultimately forage prices.