MarketsFarm — As southern Alberta still reels from the effects of last summer’s drought, one trader expects spring seeding for feed grains to be on time.
“I think it should be on schedule this year,” said Erin Harakal, trade manager for Agfinity Inc. at Stony Plain, Alta.
Planting has already started in some places around Lethbridge, she added.
“A lot of things could happen before May here, but it seems like it should be on schedule for what typically happens normally.”
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Seasonal weakness and recent rains across the Prairies pressured feed grain prices according to a Moose Jaw-based trader.
In its first survey-based principal field crop estimates released Tuesday, Statistics Canada projected a rise in wheat and oat acres compared to last year, as well as declines in seeded area for canola, barley and peas.
These figures are mostly in line with what growers have told Harakal, she said.
“It seems like (producers are growing) more wheat, probably more barley, oats and canola this year. From what we’ve been talking about in the offices, it seems like pea acres might be a little bit down, but it’s hard to say until we get into seeding because things can change.”
Harakal added that corn prices are rising, despite most feedlots being full of grain — and those rising prices have not yet created more demand for feed wheat and barley.
High-delivered bids for feed barley, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire, are $8.64 per bushel in Saskatchewan (up 11 cents from last week), $8.73/bu. in Manitoba (down 14 cents) and $9.80/bu. in Alberta (steady).
Feed wheat traded as high as $12.50/bu. in Saskatchewan (up 50 cents), $12.34/bu. in Manitoba (up 56 cents) and $14.42/bu. in Alberta (steady).
— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.
