Wheat straw is the primary component of mushroom compost, but there is a shortage this season across all agricultural sectors. This is due to a reduction in the area planted for winter and spring crops, combined with more arable farmers opting for the Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM).
The SIM is an environmental initiative that offers payments to farmers for chopping and incorporating straw into the soil. The area of winter wheat harvested has dropped by 20 per cent compared to 2023, and although spring wheat planting has increased, it hasn’t offset the overall decline in wheat production (with a 7,704 hectare reduction in 2024).
As a result, straw shortages have significantly driven up mushroom compost prices in Ireland. Mushroom composters are finding it difficult to source Irish straw and are already importing from the UK and Spain.
Teagasc’s Horticulture Crop Input Prices 2024 report, released in March 2024, indicated a 3.2 per cent rise in mushroom compost prices from March 2023 to January 2024. Recently, some composters have raised prices again, which is alarming as substrate costs make up 35 per cent of mushroom production expenses.
This, coupled with the increase in the minimum wage announced in the recent budget (from January 2025). is putting significant pressure on profitability. Corresponding increases in mushroom prices are likely to be needed to cover these rising costs and maintain farm viability.
