Glacier FarmMedia – Current prices for feed barley are not low enough to create any demand, said a Lethbridge-based broker.
Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers, reported bids for October feed barley at C$5.44 per bushel, with November/December barley at C$5.55/bu. and January/February/March at C$5.66/bu. By comparison, November/December corn was at C$7.62/bu., while January/February/March was at C$7.70/bu.
But despite the price advantage compared to feed corn, he said it’s been difficult finding buyers for October feed barley.
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“For immediate movement, there is no demand. It’s plugged,” Haley said. “I have barley here at C$250 (per tonne) and I can’t sell to anybody … Every (feedlot) has more than enough grain for themselves bought already. It’s just business as usual.”
He approximated that in southern Alberta, 90 per cent of the harvest is complete in the region with only corn and corn silage left to be taken off.
Haley thinks corn prices will stay fairly steady, but he expects barley prices will drop.
“We hardly need any offers to make the (feed barley) market weaker,” he said.
Delivered feed barley prices in Alberta ranged from C$4.33 to C$5.77/bu. on Sept. 24, down 22 cents from the previous month, Prairie Ag Hotwire said. In Saskatchewan, the range was from C$4.50 to C$4.75/bu. and steady from the past month. In Manitoba, prices were from C$4 to C$4.18/bu., down 41 cents.
For feed wheat, Alberta prices ranged from C$5.69 to C$7.35/bu., down 27 cents from a month earlier. In Saskatchewan, a price of C$6.88/bu. was reported, unchanged from last month. In Manitoba, the range was from C$5.64 to C$6/bu., down one dollar.
