MarketsFarm — There has been scant movement in feed grain prices over the last week, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, who noted demand has backed off a little.
Buyers have stepped away following rains throughout much of the province, including the drought-stricken south. In turn, she said, prices “softened slightly.”
“We’re still looking at $9 barley [per bushel] in most parts of Alberta,” Leclerc said, pointing to the declines in commodity prices.
“Are we going to see the slip come or are we just waiting in a hold pattern?” she questioned, with the start of the winter crop harvest only a few weeks away.
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To Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, there are two main reasons for recent increases for feed barley and wheat. Haley said on March 12 that there’s an ongoing lack of farmer selling, plus stiff competition from the grain companies looking to export barley.
Leclerc said Market Master was offering $9.25/bu. picked up for barley and $15-$15.50 for wheat, although they have gone as low as $14.50.
“The spread on new-crop to old-crop barley is very minimal. That’s also hindering the aggression in the market,” she said.
Prairie Ag Hotwire found similar circumstances, with old-crop feed barley cited as $9.05/bu. delivered in Manitoba, $8.50-$9 in Saskatchewan, with Alberta at $8.33-$10.33. New-crop delivered stood at $8.40-$9.25 in Saskatchewan and $8.22-$9.25 in Alberta, with no pricing for Manitoba.
Old-crop feed wheat fetched $13.19/bu. picked up in Manitoba, compared to $10.50-$14.75/bu. in Saskatchewan and $12-$16.47 in Alberta. New-crop garnered $11-$14.50 in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with no price for Manitoba.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
