AS the year draws to a close, poultry producers are still experiencing one of the longest periods of stable feed prices in recent times.

The downward drift in soya prices continues, while feed wheat has also topped out after five months of gently upward movement.

See also: Poultry Network Precision Agri Feed Buying Service

Average UK feed wheat prices slipped fractionally by around £1/t during the past few weeks, although since July they are still showing a net gain of £6/t.

In the context of finished ration prices, this small rise has been offset by the greater slide in soya costs, where average UK prices have fallen £72/t over the same period.

In fact, soya costs have been dropping steadily since November last year, apart from a temporary rally in June.

The combined effect of these price movements in the two key ingredients has been to keep ration costs largely stable for most of the year.

Except during that early summer period when wheat and soya both moved up together, feed prices have remained at their lowest levels for four years.

The current outlook shows no major shift in this pattern, and wheat costs are not expected to show any significant change moving into the early months of the New Year.

Wheat

The competitive price of wheat from the Black Sea region is still holding the trade in check, although some worries are creeping in about the condition of the winter wheat crop across parts of Europe and into Russia.

Countering this, favourable conditions for the current US winter wheat crop have been keeping the trade relaxed. Meanwhile, a satisfactory outlook for the global maize trade has reduced the risk of a knock-on effect from that source.

In the case of soya, the next Brazilian crop is now peering over the horizon, and looks on course to be a record size.  Planting conditions have been good and running ahead of schedule, while the latest forecasts are being adjusted upwards.