MarketsFarm — The prospect of rain over drought-stricken southern Alberta, with Calgary and Lethbridge possibly seeing at least 30 millimetres from June 4 to 7, would seem to be a godsend for growers.
However, recent history suggests the moisture may not matter in the long term, according to Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. at Lethbridge.
“Last year, when you look at May long weekend, we ended up anywhere between one-and-a-half to three-and-a-half inches (38 to 89 mm) and we had one of the worst crop years,” he said.
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“It’s very dry down here. It’s definitely going to help with getting some of the crop that we missed out on last year. But we’ll have to wait and see. It’s going to have to continue, but we’ll take anything we can.”
Seeding in central and south regions in Alberta was over 85 per cent complete as of May 24, according to the province, and it’s assumed that figure is now above 90 per cent.
Crops “still need a good splash of water but if you go a little bit north, there’s really good moisture. If you go into Saskatchewan, there are little pockets of good moisture, as well,” Fleischhauer said, adding he heard some Manitoba growers are attempting to air seed their waterlogged fields. “Hopefully, we can get some of this rain and it could stay here.”
He estimated 90 per cent of Alberta feedlots are using corn despite higher prices — and Fleischhauer expects crop prices to remain high.
“You have gas prices, fertilizer prices and all of the input costs are through the roof,” he added.
The high-delivered bid for feed barley in Alberta is $10.23 per bushel, 22 cents higher than last month, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. This is compared to the high-delivered bids in Saskatchewan at $9/bu. (36 cents higher) and in Manitoba at $8.96/bu. (24 cents higher).
The high-delivered bid for feed wheat in Alberta is $15.78/bu., $1.36 higher than last month. In Saskatchewan, it is $14.75/bu. ($1.25 higher) and in Manitoba, it is $14.10/bu. ($1.57 higher).
— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.
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