“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless. But planning is indispensable.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
The same could be said for farming.
From seeding to harvest, the journey is full of surprises. Sometimes, they are good surprises, and give farmers a reason to smile. Other times – as you may have noticed over the past year – they are difficult… Ruthless… Like a never-ending barrage of plague-like disaster.
If a farmer finds himself unprepared for the unpreparable, they have either not been farming long enough, or are overly optimistic. Don’t get me wrong… From a non-farming perspective, it’s good to be hopeful! … But, to truly be successful, a farmer must be as shrewd as a serpent, as innocent as a dove, and – as gritty as a honey badger.
Take today at Agfinity… As we prepared today’s newsletter, our phone and internet were down! …. Now, tell me, how on earth can grain brokers broker any grain when their phone and internet are down!!?
Well, it hasn’t been easy, but we had no choice but to create Plan B, or what we like to call, “Plan Badger“:
We tried “hotspotting” the internet from our cell phones so our computers would be somewhat functional. We tried using an iPhone app to receive incoming calls. Amy ran around the office trying to help everyone get set up; I crouched low in my chair; and Joseph dialogued with our Telus representative like a true honey badger, prodding her with the resilience to fix a dozen broken eggs. “Friday afternoon does not work. Today! We need it fixed TODAY!”
But alas… By 9:30, we had yet to make any significant progress.
A faint laughter could be heard coursing through the office. At first, we thought it was Telus. But, since that would be an exceptionally cruel thing for them to do to one of their customers, it more than likely was just the anxiousness of our situation reverberating off the office walls. But as it grew louder, the laughter actually steadied our resolve. It was not going to beat us! We were going to trade grain today!!
Then, our bearded tech-hero, Loren, arrived, and he and Joseph went to work unplugging, replugging, and pushing buttons in the utility room.
My friend Will used to always say, “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.” And though it was slightly annoying whenever he said it, he was right.
When it comes to making do, farmers might be some of the most skilled humans on the world. When plans fail, they have no choice but to create an alternative. And sometimes, like our experience this Wednesday, the alternative sucks!
“Everything should be working now,” Loren said hesitantly, emerging from the utility room before 10 am.
Unless you’re a terrific planner, you usually aren’t going to know what you need until you need it. Plan A… Plan B, C, D, or E. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is trying to find the best way around the storm, and hopefully you come out a little smarter, and a little more prepared for the next one.
It’s the afternoon now… the laughter has faded away, and we’re ready to take your calls! Heck, if you’re reading this, we’ve even been able to send this out! Perseverance! Winning the day since day 1!
… Though we sometimes need to be honey badgers, we at Agfinity really do care! And whether you’re 100% seeded or 50% seeded, we want to help you find the best grain marketing alternatives this year!
Barley : New crop feed barley bids strengthened this week up to almost $3.90/bu delivered Lethbridge for Sept-Dec and $3.97/bu delivered LB for Jan-March. Look to price new crop in increments throughout the year to take advantage of a potentially strengthening market. Current barley prices remain flat this past couple weeks, however, some higher targets are getting hit by spot opportunities that come available. Still some space for July but some buyers are looking for August for deliveries.
Wheat: Gradable wheat markets strengthened again after yesterday’s US crop report. Weather continues to be a factor in the US and Europe. CPS bids are strengthening and are now heard at $6/bu+ but there is still too big of a spread between CPS and HRS. Feed wheat is following the gradable market and bids have strengthened this past month as well. $5/bu+ picked up targets are getting hit throughout Alberta. Spring thrashed bids have strengthened as well, call us with offers.
Oats: US oat crops are being affected by weather as well as wheat and with lower seeded acres likely in Canada, we could see support into the coming year. Still seeing lots of spring thrashed oats coming to market and buyers are filling up quickly. Picked up prices are coming in at $1.75/bu for July-August movement.
Canola: Canola pressured as favourable weather hits soybean regions in the US. Old crop canola could be difficult to find for buyers causing them to strengthen basis levels. Keep an $11/bu target in mind for new crop as we wait for a couple key reports to come in.
Peas: Buyers for old crop green peas have dried up but we are currently working to find some homes, call us with offers and we’ll shop around for you. There is still demand for old crop yellow peas and bids range from $9.50 – $9.90/bu delivered. New crop delivered bids sitting at $8.93/bu for yellows and $7.93/bu for greens. Feed peas still trading above $6/bu – call with offers.
Questions? Contact Tracy on Twitter! @TracyGailGreen or reach her at 1-888-969-5552!
Send us your samples!
Mail to: 3-5400 50 Street, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B7
The Buyer Brief – by Joseph Billett
We are now entering summer markets, buyers are just buying what is needed to cover them until mid August when Southern Alberta harvest begins.Demand is still strong for the next 6 weeks until harvest. We feel a flat market over the summer months with an equal amount of bullish news as there is bearish. Buyers are relatively covered for July and are needing August or first half August on offers for them to work. Feed Wheat is still pulling strong values depending on quality and location. Let me know your thoughts! @JosephBillett .
We have not been receiving many calls about Spring Thrashed Grain around La Crete / Fort Vermilion area, but if you have some or are expecting to have some, please give us a call, or email Jared@Agfinity.com with your sample info / pictures.
Feed Barley @ the bin: – June-July-August: $2.70/ bushel.
– NEW CROP BARLEY @ the bin:
Sept- Oct: $2.60-2.65/ bushel
Nov-Dec: $2.65-2.75/ bushel
Feed Wheat @ the bin – June-July-August: $4.30/ bushel
*Have fall thrashed feed wheat? Give us a call. Buyers are looking!
– NEW CROP FEED WHEAT @ the bin:
Sept-Dec: $4.00/ bushel
2CW Oats (MIlling Grade) @ the bin (Subject to sample) – July: $2.40-2.50/ bushel
August: $2.50-2.60/ bushel
NEW CROP 2CW OATS @ the bin:
Sept-Dec: $2.10-2.35/ bushel
Jan-June: $2.30-2.50/ bushel
3CW OATS @ the bin:
July-August: $2.25-2.45/bushel
Feed Oats (Lower quality) @ the bin – June-July: $1.65-1.75
#2 Green Peas @ the bin – Max 3% bleached:
June-July: $7.40/ bushel (INDICATION)
*Call for higher bleach pricing.
– NEW CROP GREEN PEAS @ the bin:
Aug-Dec: $7.40-7.65/ bushel without Act of God, $7.25-7.40/ bushel with.
#2 Yellow Peas @ the bin – June-July: $9.00-9.10/ bushel
*Seeing good demand for old crop yellow peas. If you have some to move, please call!
– NEW CROP YELLOW PEAS @ the bin:
Aug-Oct: $7.90/ bushel without Act of God, $7.65/ bushel with.
Feed Peas – June-July: $5.50-5.75/ bushel
Feed Faba Beans – June-July: $5.25/ bushel
Canola: July-August: Old crop Targets have been triggering around $11.00-11.15 picked-up.
– NEW CROP CANOLA @ the bin:
Sept-Dec: New crop targets triggering at $10:00 picked-up.
*Give Jared@Agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email with your legal land description for a price!
Canola: $7.50-8.50/bu delivered (20-50% damaged with 40%+ oil content)
Oats: $2.15/ bushel delivered
Peas: $6.00-6.50/ bushel delivered
*Buyers are concerned on quality, predominantly in regards to mice/deer excreta. Please get us sample info / pictures and we’ll get you a price!
Feed Barley delivered in – June-August: $3.75-3.80/ bushel
*Higher targets have been triggering at these levels, but may not last!
– NEW CROP BARLEY delivered in:
Sept-Dec: $3.85-3.90/ bushel
Nov-Dec: $3.90-3.95/bushe l
Feed Wheat delivered in – June-July: $4.85-5.25/ bushel
*Picked-up targets at similar values may trade.
#1/2 CPSR Wheat delivered in – NEW CROP:
Targeting $5-5.10/bu delivered for summer and $5.50 bu for fall and winter
#1/2 HRS Wheat delivered in – Targeting $7.20 delivered for summer and fall, and $7.40 for winter and spring
#2CW Oats delivered in – June: $3.10/ bushel
July: $3.15/ bushel
August: $3.15/ bushel
3CW Oats delivered in – June-August: $3.00/ bushel
Feed Oats delivered in – June-July: $2.25-2.50/ bushel
#2 Green Peas delivered in – Max 3% bleach:
June-July: $7.85-7.90/ bushel
*Call for discounts on higher bleach.
– NEW CROP GREEN PEAS delivered in:
Aug-Oct: $8.00-8.20/ bushel
#2 Yellow Peas delivered in – June-July: $9.50/ bushel
– NEW CROP YELLOW PEAS delivered in:
Aug-Oct: $8.30-8.43/ bushel
Feed Peas delivered in – June-July: $6.75-6.90/ bushel
Feed Fabas delivered in – June: $6.00-6.25/ bushel
Canola delivered in – June-August: Targets triggering close to $11.50/ bushel delivered. Give Tracy@agfinity.com a call to discuss, or email with your legal land description for a price!
“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. 🙂
