It may be on the calendar in March, but let’s be honest… Spring arrives when it’s good and ready!
Michelle and I had the privilege of taking our kids to the west coast of Vancouver Island this spring break. In the past, we’ve made the mistake of staying in Alberta; crossing frozen lakes with snowshoes, dangling fishing line down fishing holes, and stoking fires while monitoring the children’s ever-increasing cabin fever… All fun things – in the middle of winter!
When I’m not at work, the temptation to be lazy is always present. Thankfully, Michelle often asks me, “Will you regret doing it, or will you regret not doing it…?”
On the island, I turn into a bit of a child. How fun it is to catch tide pool crabs and miniature fish! To poke sea anemones, collect shoreline treasures! To explore hidden bogs with “wolves live here” signs…
Like my children’s cartoon Disney hero, Moana, I am a voyager at heart. Truly, I am never more alive than when I’m seeking adventure! And, whether you’re man enough to admit it, I think there’s a little Moana in all of us…
Farming is an adventure! And, sometimes, the hardest thing for an adventurer is being forced to wait! … Right!? Cabin-fever doesn’t even begin to explain the psychological tug-of-war a farmer endures before seeding time!!
If your fields are covered by drifts of snow, know that the best adventures come to those who are well-rested and free from stress. “Look!” Michelle said, pointing at a sign at a Ucluelet bakery last week, “Desserts is – stressed – spelt backwards! … That’s funny!!”
It is funny, Michelle.
So, if you’ve been stressed, please join us in flipping another delayed spring on it’s back and sharing in the desserts of life: adventure, excitement, peace and unexplained joy. Seeding time is out of your hands! So, do try your best to enjoy today! Would you please…?
I’ll leave you to think about that, while, in the tune of “How Far I’ll Go”, singing the following lyrics.
Enjoy.
See the line where the snow meets the sky?
It calls us. And no one knows, when seeders will roll.
If things would melt and the snow stay behind us,
One day we’ll sow, and when we go there’s no telling how much we’ll grow!!
Speaking of singing… Make sure to check out our highly tuned trades, harmonious core values and how we can help you at www.Agfinity.com! And please come by for a visit on one of our social media accounts. Simply click one of the links below!
View from The Seitz’s spring break Ucluelet home. … Ain’t it pretty?
Barley: Though there is no surplus of feed barley this year, demand is starting to soften with many southern Alberta feedlots full for April and quickly filling up for May – June deliveries. Many malt growers have been taking advantage of the strong feed market and selling off their remaining malt barley, and malt bids could weaken further into late spring.
Wheat: CWRS wheat gained strength from the weaker Canadian dollar last week, as well as dry weather in parts of the US, with bids increasing by $2-$4/mt. Feed wheat bids are still strong with picked up May-June Edmonton area bids at $5.80/bu and $6/bu+ for Calgary area and south. Demand is still good and quick movement is available at a discount.
Oats: Bids for 2CW and 3CW oats are flat and movement is now pushed into May with buyers covered through April. A sudden demand for good quality feed oats has brought opportunities for feed bids close to the 3CW price or better depending on location.
Canola:The weaker CDN dollar gave strength to canola throughout last week, but deliveries have been delayed due to hold ups on the west coast. Buyer demand is easing now for old crop and basis levels are weakening.
Peas: A bit of an increase for both green and yellow 2CW pea prices. Some interest in feed yellow peas has brought premiums above the 2CW price for some locations.
The Billetts are back from Disneyland! And would you look at those trip stats!!
6853.8 km, 1758.8 litres of Diesel, 85 hrs of driving time, 8 states and 2 provinces in 15 days!!
The Feed Buyer Brief – Joseph Billett
Getting back in the fighting chair after a little trip to Disneyland with the family. It’s good to be back, the first thing we noticed when we got back to Canada was that spring has not arrived. Buyers have noticed this too, cooler temperatures and extended winter conditions are pushing seeding, roadbans and wet yards, which is good and bad. Following the surprise numbers of last weeks USDA, the markets have been rallying in response and this has given more strength to the feed numbers as well. Buyers have been actively buying at the offer, doing their best to buy enough to keep them ahead.
With an apparent shortage of feed barley available, the amount of corn that has been used this year turned more into a benefit than a detriment. Both barley and wheat are in high demand and buyers are now open to getting coverage for June mostly because of the weather.
Sellers, this is a great time to take advantage of these premiums, especially while yards are still frozen! There may be potential of higher prices over the summer, but if prices increase, feeders will do what they can to have lower numbers to mitigate costs. There is also concern about delayed corn that has been purchased and will be arriving when railways figure things out, which in turn could flood the market.
“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
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“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
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– Orest Hulowski, Perryvale, AB
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– Peter L .Gross, Standard, AB
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