“How’s the weather in your part of the world?” is a question I get to answer more than once a day. And because “practice makes perfect”, I’ve become quite the expert on west-of-Edmonton weather around the Agfinity office in downtown Stony Plain.
For farmers and grain buyers, talking weather is as important as talking markets. Like family, we don’t get to choose our weather or how markets react, we just learn to live with them. Or try to anyhow. And just like a couple of teenage sisters, weather and markets will sometimes get along and even share their new clothes, but other times – they’re going to fight! They’re going to scream! …They might even go as far as pulling each others hair.
… So, when I’m asked this loaded question about the weather, I take it very seriously. I sit up high in my chair, turn my head to the nearest window, and if the sky doesn’t tell the full story, I even stand up to see what the ground is saying. And then, much like a family counselor would, I pick a side – but not in an obnoxious or hurtful way – and proceed into an uninterrupted monologue:
“Well, Dave, the weather is the pits down in Stony Plain. When the snow finally melted, it started raining again. We’ve been fogged in several days this past week, and – would you believe it – I nearly missed my turn off the highway coming into work today! …So, I can only imagine how misdirected the farmers feel around here right now. And grain buyers have no doubt been a little concerned themselves. When we priced a couple loads of barley for you at the beginning of October, I honestly wasn’t expecting the weather to go and do this. But on the bright side, we can maybe get you an extra twenty to twenty-five cents right now if you’re thinking of moving a couple more, but that opportunity might only last if this sucky weather does… Farmers and buyers are looking at the long term forecast again and they’re both sounding a little hopeful on getting a bit more harvest weather. And from a marketing standpoint, unless it’s a secret, hope doesn’t really help when it comes to selling.”
“Uhh, thanks Jared. I was actually just calling to see if I could pay an invoice with my Mastercard…”
***
As a father of three adorable children, I also get to experience many times when my kids aren’t so adorable. To be completely honest about it, every now and then – and sometimes out of nowhere, my sweet little angels turn into whiny, insufferable fiends. But it’s in these moments where I have a choice: Do I slink into the shadows, or do I reveal myself to be a well-rounded father / good husband?
Whether you’re a farmer, a family man/woman, or a different kind of ninja… we get knocked down, we get up again, but more importantly, we keep two eyes peeled for the next unsuspecting sucker punch. Constant vigilance! It’s the only way!
…The next swing might still hit us, but if we can lessen the blow with a well-placed block and maybe even respond with a swift, redemptive counter-attack, we’ll be well on our way to Sesame Street! … I hear the air is sweeter there.
Barley : We still have really good pricing opportunities for feed barley, but the price has been fairly flat this week, however this could be the best pricing we see for some time as producers will begin to sell into the new tax season come January. Quick movement opportunities are still available with some buyers needing to fill first half November sales. If your barley is above 15% moisture, we have buyers who will buy it with a discount up to 17-18%. For barley above 18%, options are limited and discounts are high. So, depending on what options are available to you, drying it down is probably the best way to go.
Wheat: Bids have been cooling off this week as buyers seem to still be anticipating an abundance of feed this year. Higher moisture offers are difficult to find homes for or are heavily discounted. As with barley, drying down will bring better options for pricing and movement.
Oats: The oat market has a bit more life as of late and buyers are looking for good quality 2CW oats. Have your oats tested or send us a sample so we can market them accordingly. 3CW and feed oats also have opportunities for competitive pricing and movement.
Canola: Canola prices came off recently after rallying in October. There is a lot of canola still in the swath that is anticipated to come off this coming weekend. The weatherman is forecasting warm, sunny temperatures in much of Alberta and Saskatchewan. If your canola has higher moisture, it seems buyer are willing to take it with a drying charge of about 50 cents per bushel, depending on which buyer and % of moisture. Above 12.5% subject to rejection.
Peas: Green and yellow pea bids up. We have a premium for yellows currently with quick delivery available. Also have opportunities for greens up to 10% bleached and lots of demand for feed peas. Call us with offers!
Send us your samples!
Mail to: 3-5400 50 Street, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B7
The Buyer Brief – by Joseph Billett
Buyers have been aggressively getting covered to the New Year and will be keeping a close eye on harvest these next couple of weeks. Many will be taking advantage of the warmer temperatures ahead hoping to sit back and see what comes to market. Pricing seems to be holding firm, but opportunities are available and will become harder to find over the next week. Buyers are still on the hunt for Dry Wheat, but homes for higher moisture Barley are becoming more scarce. Heavy, Dry Wheat and Barley can still pull premiums this week!
“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
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– Phillip & Glenda Collinge, Lloydminster, SK
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– 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.”
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