“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” they say. But what about all the times it’s “kinda” broke…?
Such is the case with my beloved van. She looks okay on the outside, but underneath the hood, she resembles a 5th grade science experiment, constructed with popsicle sticks, super glue, and the latest and greatest Japanese technology available from 2008.
She will be reaching her 250k milestone in the next couple weeks. Nothing to sneeze at for a foreign family van navigating all-climate terrain. Recently, her gas filler neck decided it had had enough of the salty, backtalking Canadian winter. When I tried feeding her a bit of her favorite 87-octane the other week, it spit nearly half of it out!! This was so unlike her! I tried to have sympathy, but to be honest, I also felt a little betrayed…
After getting the filler neck fixed for a second time this week (the first time we tried a cheap radiator hose fix, but further research led us to believe that was maybe not the best idea…), I drove away feeling a little lighter in my pockets but satisfied my old gal was finally feeling better.
This moment of peace was short-lived. On my way to work yesterday, she started rumbling something fierce as soon as I got on the highway! Good grief!! … I’ve felt her disgruntled shakes once or twice before and diagnosed her latest symptom to excessive tire rod play. I’m not too mechanical by nature, but driving old vehicles my entire life has given me a basic education on the shakes, wiggles, whistles and howls of an aging automobile.
I didn’t want to make the call, but my better judgment convinced me to call my mechanic once more and make my 3rd appointment within 10 days.
It’s problems like these that make me grateful for chatting with farmers every day! This week alone, I’ve spoken with two farmers with broken augers (one of them having been run over… the auger that is… not the farmer), as well as a farmer who had a major break on his tractor’s power shift (after someone else used it!) which could be a cool $20,000 fix… Yikes!!
Unexpected repairs are one of the least fun things in life. And it’s not just machinery that can break down. We humans also break down if we fail to take care of ourselves.
I feel we are in the calm after the storm. And I may not be your mom, but I want to tell you anyway – this is a great time to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Make sure you take a bit of downtime in these next couple of months. Before you know it, you’ll be off to the races again! Sometimes they’re unpreventable, but the fewer unexpected pit stops on the farm, especially at seeding time, “the happier we’ll be”!
Because Your Farm is my Farm and my Farm is your Farm, the more we Farm Together – with Agfinity
Barley:The feed barley market softened up mildly over the past two weeks. Many buyers are covered for February already and we may see prices soften as more producers try to deliver product before the end of March and the beginning on spring. Lethbridge feeders currently able to buy barley at $255 delivered.
Wheat: Milling wheat futures have been creeping higher and the outlook can be considered bullish. Durum has also seen a rally with some areas of southern Alberta seeing $7 delivered for high protein number one. Durum acres are predicted to be down. Feed Wheat has been holding relatively steady over the past two weeks.
Oats:The Oats market has also held steady over the past two weeks. Milling prices remain strong with picked up on farm bids ranging from $3.00 to as high as $3.50 depending on quality and location. Feed Oats has also seen an increase in demand with bids ranging from $2.70-$3.00 picked up.
Canola: Canola futures have been on a mild uptrend as of recently. Crushers have been buying at a steady rate. Dryness in Brazil during their soybean growing season is expected to end as heavy rains are in the forecast. There have been reports of Chinese crushers refusing to unload Canadian Canola and this is a factor to keep an eye on going forward.
Peas:No new news on the international demand side of things. China remains in the market for Canadian peas despite the Huawei controversy. Dryer then optimal conditions in India provides hope for them entering the market. In the short term as sales are filled the outlook can be considered bearish. Buyers speculating the price to drop off from $7.50 delivered in central Alberta.
This week I’m at Farmtech19 all week, so my brief will be brief. There is still plenty of buyer demand for Barley and Wheat and buyers are much more willing to hit the ask if the time frame is for March – April forward. From what I’m hearing at Farmtech, some buyers are waiting for next week’s USDA report that was pushed from Jan 11. In it will contain lots of juicy reports, quarterly U.S grain stocks, winter wheat seedings, and the 2018 final crop production report. Not to mention the USDA supply/demand report. This information may help feeders / buyers with their new crop purchasing strategy.
If your at Farmtech19 on it’s 20th Anniversary please stop us and say hi! We’d love to chat! You can also reach out to us on twitter @Agfinity.
– FEED WHEAT @ the bin: Feb-March: $5.50/ bushel April-June: $5.55-5.60/ bushel *Higher bids available for wheat with high protein / good falling numbers. – Min 300 Falling Number, Min 13% protein: Feb-March: $5.65+/ bushel
– 2CW OATS @ the bin (subject to sample): Feb-April 2019: $2.90-3.03/ bushel May-August: $3.03-3.10/ bushel – 3CW OATS @ the bin $0.10-0.25/bushel discount to 2cw bids. – FEED OATS @ the bin Feb-March: $2.60-2.75/ bushel, depending on quality
– 2CW GREEN PEAS @ the bin: Max 3% bleach: Feb-March: $10.44/ bushel
– 2CW YELLOW PEAS @ the bin Feb-March: $7.00-7.05/ bushel
– FEED PEAS @ the bin: Feb-March: $6.00-6.50/ bushel
– 2CW FABA BEANS @ the bin Feb-Mar: $10.20/ bushel – 3CW FABAS @ the bin: Feb-Mar: $8.95/ bushel – FEED FABAS @ the bin Feb-Mar: $5.90-6.00/ bushel
– CANOLA @ the bin (as of January 30th) Feb-March: $10.30-10.40/ bushel April-July: $10.40-10.55/ bushel
– FEED BARLEY @ the bin: Feb-March: $5.10-5.15/ bushel April-July: $5.17-5.23/ bushel– FEED WHEAT @ the bin: Feb-March: $6.15-6.20/ bushel April-June: $6.25-6.30/ bushel *Seeing around a $0.25/bu premium for wheat with good protein (12.5-13.5%) and good falling numbers (300+).
– #1/2 CPSR WHEAT: Feb-July: $6.50-6.80/ bushel #1/#2 HRS Wheat: Feb-June: $6.80-7.10/ bu picked-up based 13-13.5% protein.
– 2CW OATS @ the bin (Subject to sample): Feb-March: $3.30-3.35/ bushel April-August: $3.35-3.45/ bushel *Additional premiums available for excellent colour. – 3CW OATS @ the bin: $0.10-0.25/bushel discount to 2cw bids. – FEED OATS: Feb-March: $2.80-3.00/ bushel, depending on quality
– 2CW GREEN PEAS @ the bin: Max 3% bleach: Feb-March: $10.65-10.75/ bushel
– 2CW YELLOW PEAS @ the bin Feb-March: $7.25-7.35/ bu
– FEED PEAS @ the bin Feb-March: $6.50-6.70/ bushel
– 2CW FABAS @ the bin: Feb-March: $10.40/ bushel – 3CW FABAS @ the bin: Feb-March: $9.15/ bushel – SAMPLE FABAS @ the bin: Feb-March: $8.90/ bushel – FEED FABAS @ the bin Feb-March: $6.50/ bushel
– CANOLA @ the bin (as of January 30th) Feb-March: $10.70-10.80/ bushel April-July: $10.85-11.00/ bushel
“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
“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 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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