This morning, a couple hours before sunrise, I woke to discover I had been instrumental in the making of a “Daddy sandwich”. This was not the first, nor would it be the last. It was, however, my first experience of drool pooling simultaneously on either side of my person…
Sure, like my wife Michelle, I could have found another place to sleep. Or I could have carried one of our sleeping children back to bed. After all, an open-faced, sleep sandwich is a drastic improvement to a Daddy in-the-middle sandwich…
Instead, I opted for an awkward shoulder and hip shimmy-roll, successfully turning onto my back after just a few attempts. As the blood recirculated through the right side of my body, which had probably been without adequate blood flow since the inception of the sandwich, I closed my eyes, counted my lucky stars, and enjoyed a couple more hours of mostly uninterrupted sleep.
Allow me to jump to the moral of this story! When stuck, it’s hard to move! And though my solution leaned toward laziness, sometimes making do – is all you can do.
Based on recent weather throughout the prairies, I would imagine this will be the case for many producers this spring. Seeding on one side of the field, harvesting on the other. The ultimate farmer sandwich!
I may not be an expert when it comes to being sandwiched, but what I do know is – when push comes to shove (and it did, because I tried pushing and shoving my kids before relenting to turn onto my back), you and every farmer in a thousand-mile radius are going to do whatever you must do. And hopefully, whatever makes the most sense.
It might be waiting. It might be a last-minute change in seeding plans. It might even be saying, “the heck with it all!”, and proceeding to burn every bushel of spring thrashed grain you come across, including your neighbours’…
Because, when you’re in a sandwich, the only wrong decision – is indecision.
“I says pardon?”
I said, the only wrong decision, is indecision. Not deciding anything! Deciding to wait may seem like the exact same thing. But it’s not… When you decide to wait, or do an on-point shimmy-roll, you’re at least keeping the blood flowing… The lights on… The motor running… The salami slicing…
I’m not satisfied with the last analogy, but it was the best I could do with today’s sandwich theme…
Anyhow… All this talk about sandwiches is making me hungry. Give us a call, send us an email, or tweet us @Agfinity once you’ve decided what to do!
♪Combines to the left of us, seeders to our right…
Here we are! Stuck in the middle with you!♫
Because Farming is Forever,
Jared Seitz
@JarrySeitz
Market Report
– Tracy Green
Chatting on Spring Thrashed Grain…
Charlie (St. Paul area): …One of my neighbours owns a feedlot and tried feeding some spring thrashed grain to their cattle, but they were turned off.
Tracy: Oh? Was it the taste? …or maybe a bad odour?
Charlie: Well, you know Tracy, it’s the funniest thing… the cattle never did end up telling him why…
Barley : Edmonton area quick loading opportunities and new crop bids are about all that’s exciting in the domestic feed barley market right now. Lethbridge delivered bids remain flat ($3.50/bu May-June) along with central Alberta picked up bids. New crop bids delivered Lethbridge now at $3.70/bu Sept-Dec which translates to $3.25 – 3.30/bu picked up central Alberta. The Stats Can seeded acre report will be released this Friday and less barley acres are anticipated. Spring thrashed barley hasn’t played much of a part yet with the weather keeping producers out of the field.
Wheat: Feed wheat has become difficult to find and prices are reflecting that for heavy, dry, CPS or HRS feed. Delivered bids throughout Alberta heard at $4.75/bu. Gradable wheat futures trading slightly higher and we still have strong CPS bids for Oct-Dec at around $5.10/bu delivered.
Oats: Not too much change in oats pricing or demand as of late. Still good opportunities for 2 & 3CW oats and feed as well. Hearing $2.80 – 2.90/bu delivered throughout Alberta for #2 oats, and up to $3.00 by later summer, with about 10 – 20 cent per bushel lower for #3’s. Feed oats still trading around $2-2.25/bu picked up.
Canola: Canola continues to recover, pressured by weather and demand from Crushers. Basis levels now heard at $0 with immediate movement. Delivered bids through to June now pushing up toward $11.50/bu with potential for $11.75/bu targets to be hit.
Peas: Still seeing good demand for both greens and yellows with bids similar – around $8.25-$8.50/bu dlvd. With the fumigation issue postponed to summer we could continue to see strength in the market and with less acres anticipated, new crop has some upside as well.
Mail to: 3-5400 50 Street, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B7
The Buyer Brief – by Joseph Billett
Looking out our window in Stony Pain and seeing an inch of sloppy snow and coming home to the dryer constantly running after my boys play outside in puddles… it’s pretty evident that loading, harvesting and seeding conditions suck!
You would think this would be the case across Alberta, but it seems that north of Wetaskiwin is having trouble loading while sellers south seem to still have accessible yards. This means that quick movement premiums are available North of Edmonton, but south of Edmonton the buyer is covered and is more focused on buying reasonably priced spring thrashed grain or buying just enough to get them to June.
Even with the difficult loading conditions I’m not feeling a high level of desperation from the buyer. When we say premiums today, we mean $.05-.10 cents/bu not $0.25-.50 cents/bu. Buyers are interested, but when pushed on price or squeezed on timeframe they can usually find what they are looking for from someone else. Let me know your thoughts you can reach me on Twitter @JosephBillett .
SPRING THRASHED GRAIN:
*We have buyers, but will need the specs. Please get in touch with us once you have a better idea of what you’ll be marketing. Buyers are concerned on quality, predominantly in regards to mice/deer excreta.
Canola: We’re currently locking in basis and booking targets above futures! …What price should you be targeting? Give Jared@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and he’ll get you a price!
Canola: Bids triggering around $11 picked-up. What price should you be targeting? Give Jared@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and he’ll get you a price!
Feed Barley – Can you load this week!? With poor loading conditions, buyers are looking for sellers with all weather loading, not affected by road bans. Premiums have been around $2.90/bushel picked-up ($0.15-0.20/bushel)
May-June: $2.70-2.75/ bushel
NEW CROP BARLEY:
September – October: $2.80-2.85/ bushel
Feed Wheat – *Quick movement: $4.35/bushel
May-June: $4.20-4.30/ bushel
*Please get in touch before May to place a target.
#1/2 CPSR WHEAT – While most bids have since slipped, some old crop targets are still triggering around $4.50-4.55 picked-up for April-May-June. New crop targets for October-December are trading around the same level.
*July-August: $2.75/ bushel, call to place a target for this time frame!
3CW Oats – April-May-June: $2.30-2.50/ bushel
Feed Oats – April: $1.90-2.00/ bushel
*Buyers currently looking for feed oats!
#2 Green Peas – May-June:
Max 3% bleach: $8.05/ bushel
*Call or email on higher bleach.
#2 Yellow Peas – April-May-June: $8.50/ bushel
NEW CROP:
August-October: $7.50/ bushel
Feed Peas- April-May-June: $5.75-6.00/ bushel
Feed Fabas – April-May-June: $5.40-5.50/ bushel
Canola: Offers have been triggering around $11 picked-up. Give me a call to discuss placing a target, or email Jared@Agfinity.com with your legal land description and he’ll get you a price!
Feed Barley – Can you load this week!? With poor loading conditions, buyers are looking for sellers with all weather loading, not affected by road bans. Quick movement bids have been around $3.00/bushel picked-up.
May-June: $2.85-2.95/ bushel
NEW CROP BARLEY:
September – October: $3.00-3.05/ bushel
Feed Wheat – April-May-June: $4.40-4.50/ bushel, higher pricing reserved to those who can load anytime! Please get in touch before May to place a target.
#1/2 CPSR WHEAT – While most bids have slipped, old crop targets are still triggering around $4.50-4.60/ bushel picked-up.
July-August: $2.80-2.85/ bushel *Call to place a target for this time frame!
3CW Oats – April-May-June: $2.40-2.55/ bushel
April-May: $2.05-2.15/ bushel
Feed Oats – *Buyers currently looking for feed oats! Call to place a target.
#2 Green Peas- April-May-June:
Max 3% bleach: $8.15-8.20/ bushel
*Call or email on higher bleach.
#2 Yellow Peas – April-May-June: $8.60/ bushel
NEW CROP:
August-October: $7.60/ bushel
Feed Peas – April-May-June: $6.00-6.25/ bushel
Feed Fabas – April-May-June: $5.65-5.75/ bushel
Canola: Offers have been triggering around $11.30 picked-up. Give me a call to discuss placing a target, or email Jared@Agfinity.com with your legal land description and he’ll get you a price!
Feed Barley – Can you load this week!? With poor loading conditions, buyers are looking for sellers with all weather loading, not affected by road bans. Quick movement bids have been around $3.00/bushel picked-up.
May-June: $2.90-2.95/ bushel
NEW CROP BARLEY
September-October: $3.05-3.15/bushel
Feed Wheat – April-May-June: $4.35-4.45/bushel *Quick movement opportunities available. Call for more info!
#1/2 CPSR WHEAT – While most bids have slipped, old crop targets are still triggering around $4.50-4.60/ bushel picked-up.
Canola: Offers have been triggering around $11.40 picked-up. Give me a call to discuss placing a target, or email Jared@Agfinity.com with your legal land description and he’ll get you a price!
Canola: Bids have softened as of late, but are showing promise to hit up to $11.75/bu delivered. Give Tracy@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and she’ll get you a price!
Canola: Targets have been triggering around $11.25-11.35/ bushel picked-up …What price should you be targeting? Give Jared@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and he’ll get you a price!
Canola: Bids have softened as of late, but are showing promise to hit up to $11.75/bu delivered. Give Tracy@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and she’ll get you a price!
Canola: Bids have softened as of late, but are showing promise to hit up to $11.75/bu delivered. Give Tracy@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and she’ll get you a price!
Canola: Bids have softened as of late, but are showing promise to hit up to $11.75/bu delivered. Give Tracy@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and she’ll get you a price!
Feed Fabas – April-May: $5.75-6.00 DLVD or $5.53-5.78 FOB
Canola: Bids have softened as of late, but are showing promise to hit up to $11.75/bu delivered. Give tracy@agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email me with your legal land description and she’ll get you a price!
Whether you’re in the house, combine or seeder this spring…
Keep in touch with us on social media!
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“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 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. 🙂
