Good Grain Yield in Yozgat Leads to Lower Straw Prices

In Yozgat, a significant agricultural region in Turkey, the price of straw has decreased following a successful grain harvest. The process of baling straw, which involves collecting the stalks left in fields after combine harvesting and processing them with a baler, has begun. These bales are then transported to animal farms for storage.

The price of straw, which sold for 4.5-5 Turkish lira per kilogram last year, has fallen to 3.5 lira this year, attributed to the abundant yield from the fields. While the grain harvest is nearing completion in the Yerköy and Şefaatli districts, it continues in other areas. Farmers in Yozgat, pleased with this year's production boosted by rainfall, are collecting the stubble from harvested fields to feed their animals during winter.

Students, particularly high school and university students, are actively involved in collecting and transporting straw bales during their summer break. This seasonal work provides them with an income to cover their educational expenses. Sefa Fuzul, a graduate of Vocational School of Health Services, mentioned that they come from Kahramanmaraş's Çağlayan district for seasonal agricultural work due to limited job opportunities in their hometown. He noted that daily wages range from 6,000 to 8,000 Turkish lira, depending on the work conditions.

Veli Onaran, also from Kahramanmaraş's Çağlayan district, described the process of transporting bales from fields to farms. He confirmed the current price of 3.5 lira per kilogram, down from last year's 4.5-5 lira, due to the plentiful supply. Each bale weighs approximately 20 kilograms and sells for 70 lira, with the collection cost from the field being 35 lira per bale, including transportation.