I had an epiphany this past weekend! It came when I was on my way home from an all-nighter stag for one of my good friends. As I drove away from the retro, spaceship-themed, Airbnb house we had rented southeast of Gateway Boulevard, I realized how random life really was. Or, at least how random it can be you don’t have a clue where you are going, or how you are getting there…
We were given directions to the spaceship house a few days before, but as television and science books have made clear, space is deep! And if your map is off by just an inch, your journey can be off by miles, or in the case of space, lightyears. Fortunately for me, Apple’s map happened to be right, but for the Android users attending the party, Leduc County and Leduc were one in the same.
“Well, that was a nice two-hour drive,” one of my Android-using friends declared once he arrived.
“Seriously? My phone lead me straight here,” I said. And then recognizing the sensitivity of the situation, I added, “but, that really sucks, man. Sorry that happened!”
… If you’re reading this newsletter on an Android phone, allow me to make myself clear. I am not proposing that one operating system is superior than the other. In fact, I fear I would probably lose if I tried to back Apple in this particular debate… But I am suggesting that, metaphorically speaking, our little direction debacle embodied one of life’s greatest mysteries. And that’s about the space between.
Take my farmer friend, Billy, for instance. He tried five or six different jobs before going back to his parents’ farm, ultimately realizing that farming was in his blood for a reason. It’s actually a little strange to think that just eight or nine years ago he was selling vacuums, and now, here he is, driving a giant-sized vacuum around his parents’ farm during harvest.
From what I can tell, Billy seems to really love his life now. But you know what he still says from time to time…? “I wish I figured out what I wanted sooner and started working with dad full time after school.”
All things considered, Billy didn’t do anything wrong. Sometimes figuring things out takes time. But, I think what ultimately gets to us is travelling through life at hyper-speed without any preparation or scheduling. Whether we plan for them or not, our lives are going to have significant, pivotal events. But what would we be capable of accomplishing if we knew where we were wanting to go before we started heading there!?
Where do you want to be one year from now? Five years? Ten? … These are cliché questions, but they really are worth asking yourself seriously, at least once every year.
Agfinity is going somewhere! Where exactly…? Well, that might be a story for another time. But we’re plotting points on our map every day. This is our seventh harvest as a grain brokerage company after all, and we’ve been getting ready for it for quite some time.
If you feel like you’re floating around space this September, much like Billy-Bob Thornton inside of a combine, think of us as your personal ground control. Agfinity’s Majors Joseph, Tracy, Lisa, Amy, Michelle, and yours truly are here to help this harvest!
Barley : Current barley bids now under $3/bu delivered Edmonton area and $3.30-3.40/bu delivered Lethbridge. We have been seeing continued harvest pressure and according to some market analysts “this over supplied feed market situation will persist through the entire crop year.” Quick movement opportunities are available but will fill up fast. Pricing at the market level will bring you the best opportunities for immediate movement. Seeing about a nickel up to 10 cents per bushel carry per month. Up to $170/mt or $3.70/bu delivered Lethbridge anticipated for April-May delivery.
Wheat: Quality is still somewhat of a question mark for wheat crops this year, which could mean more pressure on the feed market. As with barley, the market is oversupplied and could persist through the crop year. Prices and demand softened these past couple weeks. Know your bushel weight, moisture, vomitoxin/fusarium, ergot and protein levels. Buyers are asking all these questions and vomi levels are of particular concern this year.
Oats: Prices remain much the same and we still have homes available for 2, 3, 4CW oats for September-October delivery. Send us a sample of your new crop oats so we can shop around for the best price.
Canola: DLVD Crush plant and local bids recovered yesterday with the slow, wet Cdn harvest. Analysts are saying the Stats Can canola production estimate is too low, estimated at 18.3 MMT. Once your canola is harvested, monitor your bins regularly to ensure the integrity of your product.
Peas: Quick movement bids still difficult to find for greens off combine. We have immediate movement available for #2cw yellow peas at $7.40-7.45/bu DLVD around the Edmonton area, but many buyers are not taking delivery until the new year. Abundance of peas this year expected even with export programs, there will be lots of peas around. Yellow bids at $7/bu delivered for Jan. Green pea bids at $7.00-7.50/bu delivered Nov-Dec.
Send us your samples!
Mail to: 3-5400 50 Street, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B7
The Buyer Brief – Joseph Billett
High moisture grain, high moisture yards, and high moisture fields have kept buyer demand possible during harvest. Many buyers seem to still have availability to move and take product within the next couple weeks. Southern Alberta buyers seem to be getting their fill of cheap high Vomi Wheat out of Saskatchewan. Buyers are basing the market on what they were able to buy last, at the lowest value and will continue this thinking while harvest pressure continues.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield Space Oddity – Major Tom cover
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“Other buyers call me, and I always tell them that the best service I get is from Agfinity, and that you guys are who I market my grain through.”
– James Thompson, Millet, AB
“Most of our marketing decisions are based off of your newsletter! We really appreciate you sending it out!”
– Phillip & Glenda Collinge, Lloydminster, SK
“I really like the personal touch in the newsletter! Thanks for sending that out!” – Jim Majeski, Camrose, AB
“I really enjoy working with you guys and the transparent service you provide!”
– Kurt Boese, Neilburg, SK
“For the past five years I’ve been dealing with the Agfinity group and what a fantastic group of people they are. From number 1 to feed grain and canola. All the buyers at Agfinity can Make it happen. Fast turn around times on every thing. Movement, payment, and the inbetween that all of us farmers don’t see or care about. Good job to the Agfinity crew and keep on buying our grain.”
– Drann Hogg, Huxley, AB
“Thanks for continuing to send out a newsletter. I read right through it every time, and look forward to crop price updates.”
– Orest Hulowski, Perryvale, AB
“Enjoy reading your newsletter and price updates keep them coming, good job.”
– Peter L .Gross, Standard, AB
Have a testimonial we can share?
Just email us and say something nice about what we do. 🙂
