“Wow!” my father-in-law, Barry, marveled, admiring the IKEA living room storage system he and my mother-in-law designed and constructed this Family Day weekend.
“I know!! The room looks and feels so much bigger now!” Tessa agreed.
“If only there were a place for the fridge,” Barry mused later that evening, “the whole cabin would feel bigger.”
“Well,” I interjected, “we could cut a hole into the pantry, and slide it in there…?”
I didn’t expect an immediate cabin-concurment, but with everyone approving the idea, I knew I needed to act quickly. With Barry’s blessing, I gathered his reciprocating saw, a utility knife, an array of screwdrivers, and a hammer.
If you got to read our “if you plant it, they will come” newsletter, you already know I have a passion for hole-digging. Cutting a hole in a wall, though a little more challenging, is a whole lot of fun too. At the onset, I presented the task to my in-laws as if it were a piece of cake. A few strategic saws and slices was all this over-sized pantry needed to host our beloved cabin fridge. I knew there were a couple electrical outlets to be moved, but the measurements lined up perfectly. It was a match made in appliance heaven, and I was swiping right! (That’s a Tinder reference, for anyone unfamiliar with the world on online dating…)
Explaining your jokes is a lot like explaining your plan for a renovation. It’s better not to, but you’ll do it if you feel it’s necessary. Thankfully, my in-laws were still a little preoccupied with the main IKEA project and I was granted full autonomy with the pantry wall – so long as I kept the dust to a minimum.
Well! Things got dusty!! But things were also getting done! When it came time to see if the fridge would slide into the fridge-sized hole, Barry was keen to see the birth of our cabin brainchild and even offered to play the role of Doctor while I laid down and pushed the fridge with my feet.
“It’s not coming through, Jared. It’s pushing against the drywall.” “How many centimeters?” I asked. “Do we need to make another incision?” “I’m afraid so,” Barry said, “but another 3/4s of an inch should do the trick.”
I had cut the hole the same size as the fridge, so I was expecting a bit of friction; however, I wasn’t ready to throw the custom, “built-in” look out the window just yet… I decided to go with an extra centimeter on the top, with the same dimensions on the side. Barry knew I had his best interest at heart, so any offense taken on his part was minimal and soon forgotten.
It took a little finesse, but when we tried again – that fridge sunk right in place! We plugged it in, and sure enough, it worked! Michelle, her parents and I shared a laugh and we even celebrated the accomplishment with a mostly-still-cold beer.
Thanks for letting me take that job on, Mom & Dad LaRiviere. I was kind of itching to do something productive!
It feels good to create, to renovate, to bring new purpose or find new places for things! Something I got from my Mom, no doubt, but I like to think of it as one of my manliest characteristics. I mean just look at this photo!!
When something is standing in the way, how do you look at it? Do you see it how it is? Or how it could be? Farmers are known for their ingenuity on the field and around the farm. Why should it stop there…?
If something’s broke, whether it’s your tractor, crop rotation, marketing plan, or your bank account, there’s probably something that could be done that you just haven’t thought of yet.
The solutions are there. And with enough grease, we should be able to make them fit! … And hopefully – free up some mental “bin space” while we’re doing it!
And speaking of solutions, feed grain markets have taken quite a jump this past week!! Be sure to check out current grain pricing opportunities in Tracy and Joseph’s sections below and get in touch with us if we can help post an offer for you!
Barley:Demand has been strengthening for feed barley! Buyers are mainly looking for April-May, and we have some great March opportunities that have come up with buyers paying premiums to get grain quickly. This is a great time to get some movement before road bans set in!
Wheat: Still seeing good demand and prices for feed wheat with quick movement available (see prices below). Lower protein #1, 2 and 3 HRS has been coming steadily into the feed market due to the hefty protein discounts. Drought has been a concern for the US winter wheat crop, but on the prairies, most areas are still ok even with the lack of snow cover.
Oats: Oats bids are lower and movement before spring is unlikely for 2 and 3CW. Higher prices available into May if you can hold off until then. Fairly low demand for feed oats which has kept prices flat.
Canola:Strength was seen in the canola market today due to hot, dry weather in Argentina, the lower Canadian dollar as well as support from a stronger soybean market. There is a ceiling for canola prices with plenty of old crop still available and more acres anticipated for this spring.
Peas:Yellows: Little bit more promising for yellows with delivered bids now close to $7/bu. Feb-March movement available. Greens: Delivered bids now up to $8.68/bu for 3% bleached or less with Feb-March movement available.
WHAT’S FUELING FEED MARKETS!?
The Feed Buyer Brief – Joseph Billett
Buyers are hungry for Barley and Feed Wheat and we are finding buyers for offers as fast as we can post them up. ( See our offers here! ) Edmonton and Feedlot alley (Picture Butte) have been bullish, but seem to be firming up prices this week.
Delivered barley bids into the Edmonton market for March-April-May are ranging from $206.69 – 211.28/MT ($4.50-4.60/bu), feed wheat is around $220.46/MT or $6.00/bu. Southern Alberta delivered bids for April-May-June ranging from $228 – 232/MT ($4.95-5.05/bu), feed wheat is close to par with barley.
Corn is facing challenges coming into feedlot alley, mostly due to low railcar availability which in turn is choking the supply of corn into the Lethbridge feed market. Rail has been keeping the lid on feed prices, now with limited supply of cars and upcoming road bans barley and wheat premiums are available.
We are communicating with these buyers multiple times throughout the day! The larger the offer, the higher they are willing to pay. Buyers are being quite lenient when it comes to higher moisture or off spec issues if they are made aware prior to booking and delivery. Give us a call and let us find you the best opportunities!
Would love to hear your thoughts on current markets! @ JosephBillett
“No matter who I talk to at Agfinity, you always take care of things. You guys are so great to work with!”
– James Taylor, Leslieville, AB
“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
“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 seven 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
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