Chuncheon County has requested local farmers to prioritize supplying rice straw to livestock farms as the collection rate in the region fell to about 60% of the average due to frequent autumn rains last year.
On September 10, Chuncheon County officials urged restraint on the export of rice straw to assist livestock farmers struggling with shortages and rising feed prices.
Rice straw is a key forage used for ruminants such as beef and dairy cattle. It plays a crucial role in utilizing byproducts from rice production as animal feed, helping to reduce reliance on imported feed and lower production costs.
However, last year's continuous rainfall during the harvest season disrupted the drying and bundling of rice straw. The actual collection rate in Chuncheon remained at approximately 60% of the norm, significantly reducing the forage reserves for livestock farmers.
The shortage of rice straw is not unique to Chuncheon. Across the country, heavy autumn rains and prolonged monsoons delayed collection efforts in major production areas, leading to decreased output and rising prices. In some regions, rice straw production dropped significantly compared to the previous year, with prices for wrapped silage increasing by over 30%.
Additionally, fluctuations in international commodity prices and exchange rates continue to burden the costs of compound feed and imported forage. If domestic rice straw becomes scarce, the added transportation costs for purchasing forage from outside will inevitably increase the operating expenses for beef and dairy farms.
As a result, there are calls across rural areas to expand support for forage production and prioritize supplying locally produced rice straw to local livestock farms. Chuncheon County's request for restraint on exports is a measure aimed at increasing the self-sufficiency rate of forage within the region and reducing supply imbalances among farmers.
However, since rice straw transactions occur through private contracts between farmers and collection companies, there are limitations to preventing exports solely based on administrative requests. To increase local supply, it will be necessary to consider follow-up measures such as expanding contracts between crop and livestock farmers and supporting collection and transportation costs.
A Chuncheon County official stated, "We ask that farmers refrain from exporting rice straw to establish a cooperative system among local agricultural producers and enhance the self-sufficiency rate of forage. We hope for cooperation to ensure that local livestock farms facing shortages are prioritized in supply."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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