Wouldn’t you think he’s a farmer – the farmer – who has everything…?
Just look at his bins, treasures untold!!
How many wonders can one barn hold??
Lookin’ around here you’d think… sure – he’s got everything…
He’s got gadgets and gizmos aplenty!!
He’s got augers and tractors galore!!
Do you like hopper bottom bins…?
He’s got twenty!!!
But who cares? …He hasn’t turned a wheel… Since October Fooooooooooourth…
Me in Puerto Vallarta this November. A friend titled it “Jariel, the Little Merman”.
A week ago today, my wife and I were facing facts. And even though we were in a tropical climate, these facts were cold and hard. Our Puerto Vallarta all-inclusive vacation – without kids – had somehow come to an end.
“But who’s going to bring me drinks by the pool once we’re home?” I asked Michelle earnestly.
“Nobody,” she told me. “And we don’t have a pool.”
“Oh,” I responded.
I’ll admit. As much as I love my country, I wasn’t sure I was ready to be a hard-working Canadian again. I was vacation blind. And in the worst way.
“… What if farmers didn’t get the rest of their crops off, Michelle…? I can’t just tell them I’ve been vacationing while they’ve been stressing about unharvested crop in their fields! …Should I say I’ve been away researching Mexican malt barley varieties? That’s not really a lie.”
“Just tell them the truth, Jared,” Michelle reasoned. “You didn’t know harvest was going to drag out like this… And everyone needs to get away now and then.”
Michelle was right. So, here’s the truth. I loved shutting my mind off for a short while this November. I let myself sink deep; under a sea of difficult circumstances I was sure the world could handle – and maybe even fix – while I was gone. Trump. Harvest issues in Canada. Getting winter tires… they simply were not a part of this world I had become privy to.
Nevertheless, I had yet to meet a Mexican sea-witch capable of transforming me into a permanent vacationer, though I might have been tempted to sacrifice my voice, like Ariel had, to stay just a little longer. After all, you can get away without speaking at a foreign resort if you’re a good tipper and sober enough to communicate via well-practiced hand signals… Alas, there comes a time in every pretend-merman’s vacation where you must go back to where you came from.
… Are you heading south sometime this winter? If so, have yourself a great time! If I can offer any advice: drink bottled water, bring Dramamine/Gravol (if you’re as prone to motion sickness as I am), and please, whatever you do, trust me on the sunscreen.
And just as importantly, try to keep your head in the game while you’re away! At least more than I did anyhow… The good life down under might trick you into believing that ‘life in the bubbles has no troubles’, or that ‘the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake.’
But if you have grain to sell at some point, there are a few hard and cold facts we’re going to have to face this crop year. And sooner than later if you require movement before the new year or spring!
Whichever world you’re going to be a part of this winter, please know you are always welcome in our world. Grain markets, good or bad, they live here at Agfinity! We even have a little song about it:
At Ag-fin-i-ty
At Ag-fin-i-ty
It’d surely be betta
But crops ‘neva been wetta
Take it from me!
But we has the spirit
You gots to hear it
Nobody beat us
Try us! believe us!
At Ag-fin-i-ty
Because Farming is Forever,
Jared Seitz
*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. 😀
Barley : Barley bids remain flat into the new year and Lethbridge bids remaind around $167-170/mt December-January. Post your offers with us so you can be ready to take advantage of any higher pricing opportunities that come available. December can bring rallies based on higher demand and less producer selling. Premiums for late winter/early spring expected at about $175-$180/mt delivered Lethbridge. Some movement for higher moisture barley with discounts averaging $5/mt per point above 15%, but buyers are quiet this week and bids for higher moisture barley are becoming more difficult to find.
Wheat: Still seeing steady demand for dry, heavy feed wheat with prices also flat into the new year. Homes available for higher moisture (even up to 25%), but at a large discount. Nevertheless, if drying isn’t an option for you, this is still a good opportunity to get some grain moving. Have your wheat tested for vomi, fusarium, ergot as these are all concerns for buyers this year. “Gradable wheat has been a slow mover but I am seeing more info supporting higher prices as we go. I find making any argument to sell below $7/bu difficult unless it is needed for quick movement/cash-flow situations,” states a central Alberta market analyst.
Oats: Prices for good quality milling oats have risen these past few weeks, and we’re now hearing delivered bids on export quality oats up to $3.30/bu in the new year or $3/bu picked up in many areas. Have your oats tested or send us a sample so we can market them accordingly. We also have competitive 3CW bids, and pricing for feed oats. Buyers have also been interested in (or open to) higher moisture feed oats.
Canola: Local elevators are behind on canola shipments and not booking new contracts until the new year. Delivered bids above $11/bu for Dec-Jan. If you have high moisture canola, drying charges will be deducted (up to around 12%, but we have a couple homes for higher moisture). With producer selling slowing into the new year, we are seeing slightly better bids.
*Currently seeing some buyer interest for heated or green canola up to 40% damaged.
Peas: Green and yellow pea bids remain flat after jumping up early November. Quicker movement still available for both #2 greens and yellows, and we still have some opportunities for higher bleached greens as well and lots of demand for feed peas. If you’ve had your peas tested and they are feed quality, call us!
*Do you have good quality Patrick green peas? Please send us an email or give us a call.
Send us your samples!
Mail to: 3-5400 50 Street, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1B7
The Buyer Brief – by Joseph Billett
Buyers are finally starting to see some of the grain that they bought in October come in. Lots of grain that has been coming off in the last couple of weeks was already sold and now can ship. Both feedlots and resellers have strong coverage out to the New Year and are now focused on execution. If temperatures remain mild and grain can load this will put continued pressure on the cash market. Prices are flat to 2017 and buyers are going to try to not buy too far ahead. If they need to pay up, they will wait until necessary. Buyers are going to buy at their bid and will need a good reason to hit the offer.
“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
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