Due to this year's drought, hay bale prices in Germany have increased, with some reaching as high as € 163 per tonne in Lower Saxony and € 155 in Westphalia. The average price is now around € 138, up from € 135 due to a 50% drop in grass yield in some regions and depletion of stocks from previous drought years. Straw prices have also risen, reaching € 87 per tonne in August. The price fluctuations vary across different regions in Germany, with the eastern provinces experiencing the worst shortages.