“Your van didn’t start,” my father-in-law declared while everyone lazily sipped away on champagne and orange juice the day after Christmas.
Mimosas are a Boxing Day brunch tradition in our family. Mine, however, did not taste as sweet after this news.
“Seriously!!?” my wife Michelle shrieked, turning to me with holiday rage in her eyes, simultaneously breaking a paper plate or plastic cup with her clenched fingers. “That’s it! We’re buying a new van for Christmas!”
At first, I wondered if she meant the following Christmas, as we had already finished opening presents for 2016… But one more look and I knew what had to be done. Holiday budget or not, the Seitzs were buying a new van this Christmas.
After multiple days of waiting in dealerships, test driving vans, waiting, then waiting to wait a little more, we bought a beautiful, almost new Toyota Sienna. Yes, I know it’s just a van… but think of it as the John Deere of family vehicles (or whichever tractor company you think is the greatest).
If you know me well, you’ll know that I try to avoid debt whenever possible. It’s kind of my thing… But more than that, I’m a believer in consistency, reliability, efficiency, and good value. Not to mention, a happy wife!
Agfinity was founded on these same principles. The happy wife portion included!
Yes, we’ve really enjoyed driving the new van these past couple weeks and are extremely grateful every time we get into it. Though we feel safer and a little cooler in our silver “swagger-wagon“, what hasn’t changed is our attention on the road ahead.
Though the new year is a good time to try and be more aware, I still enjoy putting the ol’ cruise control on every now and again. But, even so, it never takes too long before I need to adjust the settings. Cruise control is probably most enjoyed by people who have no intention of sharing the road! But for drivers and farmers alike, we really have no choice when it comes to sharing, do we…?
How has your cruise been going so far this year? 2016’s long and bumpy harvest is no doubt still visible in your rear-view mirror!! … Have you had to slam the breaks for any last-minute grain sales yet? Or, like many others, have you mostly been accelerating to dangerous speeds to try and catch last week’s missed opportunity…?
Constant adjustments… They are annoying! But grain marketing can be just as treacherous as cruising Highway 2 between Edmonton and Calgary if you refuse to touch your breaks! … Believe me! I’ve tried!
…So, what should farmers be doing in our current lackluster market you ask?
Well, if you’d allow me to keep on chugging with the same metaphor, it truly depends on how much gas you have left in the tank! If driving beyond break-up doesn’t really get you further along, you might be just as well pulling out of the fast lane and taking your next exit! It’s good to have hope for better things ahead, but let me put it this way: feed grain markets are a lot like a drive through Saskatchewan this year… Flat! And a little windy…
So, if the price ends up being more-or-less the same in March or April as it is now, your yard will at least thank you for moving grain out sooner if nobody else does.
Happy New Year by the way! … If our New Year’s resolution was to be more bullish, we’re not off to a good start! But on the bright side, at least we’re killing it in the honesty department!! 😉
Hope you’re doing well and we look forward to hearing from you again soon!
Because Farming is Forever,
Jared Seitz
Market Report –
Tracy Green
Barley : Buyers have been quiet so far in 2017. Many feedlots had coverage for January early on and are now buying Feb-March, however, we do still have some spot movement available. March delivered bids heard at $3.50-3.60/bu Lethbridge, central Alberta delivered bids $3.40/bu with Edmonton area delivered bids $3.20-3.25/bu.
Wheat: Consider putting targets in for your gradable wheat as we should be looking at a 15-20 cents climb up to next resistance levels, according to a central Alberta market analyst. Call us and we can check pricing opportunities for you. *Currently seeing $5/bu picked-up on #2 CPS wheat for December 2017 (based 11-11.5 protein). Call us for more information! Feed wheat prices came off as we headed into the new year and are flat for the next few months. We do have 5-10 cents per bushel carry into April-May for low vomi, feed wheat for some locations. Call us to post an offer so you can be ready to take advantage of any opportunities that come up.
Oats: Oats prices dropped slightly this past month but demand is still there for 2CW oats that are weighing 43.3 lbs with good colour and moisture under 13.5%. Movement for January – February. Seeing about a 5-10 cent carry per month into spring/summer. We also have buyers looking for heavy 3CW oats with up to 14% moisture. Send us your samples or text/email a picture to us so we can market them accordingly.
Canola: Excess supplies of canola have had buyers behind on deliveries. Delivered prices now under $11/bu across Alberta. Monitor your bins to ensure the integrity of your product. If your canola is heated, we have buyers who are interested. Buyers will ask the % heated, if it’s stable and flowable and may request a picture of the roll strip.
Peas: Green and yellow pea bids holding up well with some buyers at $9.15-9.20/bu delivered. Higher bleached green pea bids at $7.93/bu delivered. Still lots of demand for feed peas with prices above $6/bu FOB. Call us with offers!
Send us your samples!
Mail to: 3-5400 50 Street, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B7
I just got back from Saskatoon yesterday, having spent a couple days at the 2017 Crop Production Show. Talking to multiple buyers, the common theme was “We’re busy dealing with all of this high vomi, high moisture Durum and Feed Wheat out of Saskatchewan”. Many feedlots have shifted a large percentage of their rations to Wheat/Durum and are being flooded with offers at $150-155/mt depending on quality. This is keeping a ceiling on the Barley price in Alberta which is still at $10-13MT premium to Wheat, something we rarely see and to be aware of. When buyers contract off spec 17% moisture, 47lb Barley, or off spec Wheat, they are holding all parties to those specs. Feedlots and resellers are also becoming less tolerant when grain comes in at a poorer quality than contracted. Stiff discounts could turn into rejections. *Buyers seeing lots of grain around them and no reason for the feed prices to strengthen.
Feed Barley – January-March: $3.00/ bushel *Many bids coming in under $3 now, so if you can’t store till spring/summer, you might be just as well to price sooner than later.
Feed Oats – J anuary: $1.80-2.00/ bushel *There are more and more buyers coming to the table for feed oats, so better pricing will come to those posting targets.
Feed Oats – January: $1.80-2.00/ bushel *There are more and more buyers coming to the table for feed oats, so better pricing will come to those posting targets.
Feed Oats -January: $1.90-2.25/ bushel. *There are more and more buyers coming to the table for feed oats, so better pricing will come to those posting targets.
#2 Green Peas – January-March
Max 3% bleach: $8.65-8.70/ bushel
Max 10% bleach: $7.40-7.45/ bushel
*Call for pricing on higher bleach.
#2 Yellow Peas – January March: $8.65-8.70/ bushel
Feed Barley – Jan-Feb: $3.55-3.60 DLVD or $3.38-3.43 FOB
March-April: $3.60-3.65 DLVD or 3.43-3.48 FOB
Feed Wheat – Jan-Feb-Mar: $4.20-4.55 or $3.98-4.33 FOB
#2CW Oats- Jan-Feb: $3.00-3.15 DLVD or $2.88-3.03 FOB
3CW/Fd Oats – Jan-Feb: $2.30-2.50 DLVD or $2.18-2.38FOB
#2 Green Peas- Jan-Feb: $8.15-8.20 DLVD or $7.93-7.98 FOB
#2 Yellow Peas – Jan-Feb $8.15-8.20 Dlvd or $7.93-7.98 FOB
Call today!!!
1-888-969-5552
*If you’re trying to reach us from outside of Canada this winter, our toll-free number unfortunately will not work, so please reach us at 780-968-1676. 😀
Whether you’re out running around in the cold, or sitting at home by the fire…
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
“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. 🙂
