Remember the problems beer makers may have with increased barley prices

My god is 'Bud" feeling the effects of the increase in barley prices. This chart looks like a nasty $3 drop in stock price. A little less than a "Bud" would cost at the bar. Begin drinking more beer.
Wait a minute I think rice is a major ingredient in "Bud" . We and "Bud" are saved they can just put more rice in the brew.

Projected South American Corn Production Graph

I think this is a USDA chart?

Projected export jump is interesting. Brazil looks like they are double, 2.5 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes(?)

Pulse Outlooks 2007: Everybody Peas, lentils, beans

http://www.saskpulse.com/media/pdfs/Market_Outlook_Session.pdf

Link to the 2007 pulse outlooks presentation made at Pulse Day(s) in Saskatoon

I will read these later tonight

Biofuel Alert: Beer Prices May Rise

MSN video

Now this could cause problems. Malt prices may rise because of increased demand for bio-fuel.
This has taken a nasty turn. We can only hope the brewers can find some way out of this dilemma. It certainly looks like they are working on it. I will keep you informed on this crisis

One More USDA Chart

This chart points to strong prices for the next decade. With maybe some tapering off for corn.

It's projected, but fine with me if it goes.

USDA "HOT" country report on Canada

http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200702/146280223.pdf

I'm not kidding they call these reports that on the site. I've only read the bio-fuel paragraph, but it sounds like straight reporting with a touch of analysis. They have it right, we lag behind the States and that if we get into biofuel it will be for different reasons. I wonder how much influence these have.

Another "cool" thing from the States are the CIA reports and maps you can access on line. I'm again not kidding, that CIA! I mean no state secrets or spy stuff, but detailed economic overview and analysis

USDA Graph Showing Corn Demand In The States To 2015

I was on the USDA site and saved a few charts. This one shows projected demand for corn. You can see they do not expect it to steady or drop off. I guess steady slower increase

$12 per Case off Trophy

Nurfarm announced a$12 per case "Instant" discount on Trophy. As I get more details I will pass them along

Trophy is a broadleaf herbicide that is strong on cleavers. This discount should bring suggested retail price under $10 per acre.

If you are interested contact your dealer

CWB Reply On Barley Price: I knew I should not have posted anything about the darn Wheat Board

http://www.cwb.ca/en/hot/mbprice/

CWB side to the Malt/feed barley story. It's about contracts that have already been signed.

I promise never to post any thing else political ever, ever again. PROMISE, cross my heart and hope to die.

Female Farm Managers Survey

http://www.surveymonkey.com/Users/80010035/Surveys/258643271562/25FAE7F4-0030-4DCE-BDDD-6DEFD7D52CDA.asp?U=258643271562&DO_NOT_COPY_THIS_LINK

Must be a slow day at the shop. Lots of posts

Globe and Mail Global Warming Post: Spin from the Greens

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070223.wclimatestarve0224/BNStory/ClimateChange/?pageRequested=1

Good post from the Globe and Mail. This will give you a feel for how the non-ag community looks at things.

The Latest Market Commentary From Westco Fertilizer

Our Fertilizer wholesalers market commentary just hit my desk. The key points I take away from it are:

• Ok the prices for N and P are going to be really really high. (Please note, these guys are not above providing a good panic)
• Now real points. Western Canada should not be short of N. We are net exporters to the States.
• Westco is calling for another $25 increase on urea (?)
• Florida ( a shipping point) inventory is low in Phosphate (P). That will drive price up in North America
• Western Canada P imports are slower than last year and volume is only slightly ahead of 2006
• Westco is calling Western Canada 75,000 to 100,000 short of P for 2007. If that happens price will rise. (Please note, these guys are not above providing a good panic)
• Westco is calling for 2 more price increases for P to go with the $30 that just hit.
• These projections could be out to lunch if retails are misjudging there needs. In the last 2 or 3 years projecting at the retail level has been inconsistent.

Farmer Comment On High Fertilizer Price

http://www.fcc-fac.ca/newsletters/en/express/articles/20070223_e.asp#0

This post pretty much sums up what has happened in fertilizer price this year. Mainly that price has gone up since fall. When I use to be the lead salesman in fertilizer we always said you would save 10% on ave by buying in fall. Some years you save a lot more, I have seen 30%, and about once every 10 or so you lose.

I just want to throw in my two cents worth:

• Mike is right a lot of key customers are taken care of. But from what I hear producers are having to hit two or three retails to secure supply. That could mean retails are short or retails are keeping 25 to 30% of supply for spring to capture the market gain.
• Second point, the article talks about 50% price difference. Quoted price now is a "false" price. There is no demand or competition now in western Canada for the product. You can call the price anything and get away with it. I heard an interesting "early warning" signal some industry people are using. My understanding is planting in the cotton belt starts at the end of the month. People are watching how much corn goes in. Depending on how much cotton land switches to corn it could give an early read on demand and consequently on price
• Retail dealers usually get a chance to "buy" stored product from wholesalers, much like the producer does from retails. This year the "buy" did not happen till late and price was high.
  
  We can use this a an indicator of spring price. This "virtual" buy often gives the retails about 5% discount from where spring price will be.
• Demand driven markets are expensive. If, as it looks, fertilizer is driven by corn acres and to a lesser extend canola in western Canada, LOOK OUT, price will be scary.
  
  I really like this newsletter/blog from FCC. Good current pieces

Ever notice service stinks; Here is a reason why

globeandmail.com: Poll Results

A trained employee is a usually a happy employee, remember that on the farm. I know I run in to poor service when I do buisness. The poll shows a reason why, NO TRAINING

Market Talk: CWB PRO's Lacking: How has price effected the vote (?)

Market Talk: CWB PRO's Lacking

I've heard this a lot during the voting on barley and the CWB. I offer little, but the one line in the post " CWB in crisis" The price issues can not be good for producer's mind sets when making votes ( for the last or the next vote)

I was thinking with a lot of farmgate support for the board and some "bully" tactics from the Feds that the CWB had a good chance of coming out of things fairly intact. I'm getting vibes the other way now. The Richardson "deal" makes that entity the second largest grain handler in Canada after the CWB and a lot closer second that AU was before. (I will have a look for the numbers). I can not see Richardson Agricore being good news for the board.

Sask Pool Gets Ethanol Contract

FarmAssist - Agronomic Resources - Alerts


I heard some rumours about this. But my rumour was about another ethanol producer

Optomistic Weather Story For Canada From Kansas

Future Source Story

Wheat Midge I - Insects - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Eggs
larve
Insect

Wheat Midge I - Insects - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Wheat Midge II - Insects - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Wheat Midge II - Insects - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

John Gavloski's Presentation On Midge and Armyworns For 2007

University of Manitoba: Manitoba Agronomists Conference 2006 - Proceedings

http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/agronomists_conf/proceedings/2006/gavloski_preparing_for_a_potential_resurgence.pdf

Two posts; John's presentation pdf and all the prodceedings

Looking at John's 2006 summary made me think of the conference

Bubble Time For Global Warming Stocks (?)

Bloomberg.com: Funds


Quote from Bloomberg.com post by Daniel Hauck and Michael Tsang

"Hedge funds, whose managers are among the highest-paid professionals on Wall Street, have turned away from the group, including solar-and wind-power producers, ethanol and biodiesel makers and fuel-cell manufacturers, as their shares trade at a record relative to earnings"

China Agri-Industries Holdkings Ltd. Goes Public : A part of China's largest grain trader

Bloomberg.com: Emerging Markets

Interest in agricultural companies in the east.

Can You Spot The Wet Years ?

This is a Manitoba chart of summefallow acres. It is not hard to see the years it was to wet to sow.

Insect Pests in Cereal, Oilseed, Forage and Pulse Crops in Manitoba in 2006 - John Galvoski's summary on 2006 insects in field crops

Insect Pests in Cereal, Oilseed, Forage and Pulse Crops in Manitoba in 2006 - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

The post is a summary of the years insect issues the past year.


The summary should be used as a warning device for next years crops. take note of the following:

• Aphids - These sap-sucking critters can do more damage that some producers think. I know our area will not have a lot of flax and peas this year, but that is where they can hurt you. Anyone in southwest Man. growing either should monitor populations.


• Bertha Armyworm - We sprayed for Bertha this past year (150 acres). Again this insect population should be watched closely. We will be seeing a lot of canola in 2007 and with the prices control of armyworms could easily pay dividends


• Wheat Midge - I missed midge in 2006. Our growers had populations and are having wheat downgraded for midge damage. I just did not pick up on it. It looks like midge should be on the list for 2007
  
  
  
  John Gavloski does a good job as our Manitoba Entomologist. I use his reports in season and call him for information. I like his presentations and when I can catch one I do.
  I just ran across this this morning looking for good production information.

Richarson Background and Spin

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070221.wrichardson0221/BNStory/Business

Truly one of the great stories of grain trading in Canada. The post is a Globe and Mail background piece on the "deal"

More Richardson Agricore Stories On The "Deal"

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070221.wagricore0221/BNStory/Business/?cid=al_gam_nletter_maropen

More thoughts on the grain trade merger

• This is a buyout, no question, JRI will call the shots, control the board and have already named the CEO (not Brain Hayward)
• This is JRI's first move into the public traded markets with one of there companies. They have been a very private family run outfit. Having your business out for everyone to see will be a big change
• JRI will have there first dealing with a union. The AU union is not a radical bunch anymore, but I don't to my knowledge recall JRI having to deal with unions and the baggage that can go with that type of negotiation.
• AU has a rep. of being generous with the pay pak. It may be liableous to say any more.
• This will be good for our little farm supply. I can see customer movement. Likely not to the extend when the pools where in there big changes, but still movement
• The impact on the canola seed market will be huge. This is very much control of that segment. The industry has been moving to companies with the biggest "footprint". If you want to launch something new, go to a big company to get the best exposure. Richardson Agricore is now the only option
• There are going to be some agronomists and managers looking for work

Richardson Agricore LTD (?)

http://www.agricoreunited.com/cgi-bin/bvsm/AU2/AboutUs/NewsMedia/Corporate/index.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1731526248.1172079113@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccedaddkfdijlgkcfkjceghdffgdffl.0&auNewsitem=http%3a%2f%2fcnrp.ccnmatthews.com%2fclient%2fagricore_united%2frelease.jsp%3factionFor%3d636663&auSite=Agricore%20United&cCache3349531913=0

More from Richardson Agricore.

OK This Is BIG: Agircore and JRI merge

http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/investing/news/businessnews/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1212965

Man this is big. AU and JRI merge with money from the Ontario Teachers Pension Fund in the pot too.

I'm stunned by the implications of this.

• First there will be a large injection of cash into farmers pockets. The press release says $6.5 per share and $24 per preferred share. A quick survey around our little shop puts that number among employees at $2380. (I'm in there with some of that, not enough but some)
• A lot of people in the rural areas are employed by these people. I have a brother with AU. It will take a while for that to sort out, but there will be some ripples
• Communities will be effected. We all knew contraction was coming in the industry. This puts it closer. Facilities will close in small and large towns, make no mistake it has to happen.
• This will create the largest grain company in Canada. This will force others to make moves, if they want to or not.
• It shows a large commitment by a huge investment fund in Eastern Canada to Western Canada. The Ontario Teachers Pension fund is a big player, people are going to take note of this move.

I have to get on the phone to talk to my brother

Jeff Foxworthy on Manitoba: Kind of messy copy but pretty funny; I'm a Manitoban and understand or have done these things

Jeff Foxworthy On Manitoba.........>>>> If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling>>through 36" of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will >>swim>>by, you live in Manitoba>> If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,>>you live in Manitoba.>>>> If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live>>in Manitoba.>>>> If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone>>who>> Dialed a wrong number, you live in Manitoba.>> If "Vacation" means going south past Grand Forks for the>>weekend,>> You live in Manitoba.>>>> If you measure distance in hours, you live in Manitoba.>>>> If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once,>>you live in Manitoba.>>>> If you often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and>>then>> Back again, you live in Manitoba.>>>> If you can drive 110 KM/H through 2 feet of snow during a >> raging>> Blizzard, without flinchin, you live in Manitoba.>>>> If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a>>snowsuit,>> You live in Manitoba.>>>> If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are>>filled with snow, you live in Manitoba.>>>> If you know all 4 seasons by: almost winter, winter, still>>winter and road construction, you live in Manitoba.>>>> If your idea of creative landscaping is a statue of a deer next>>to your blue spruce, you live in Manitoba.>>>> If down south to you means the U.S. Border, you live in>>Manitoba.>>>> If your 1st of July bbq was moved indoors due to frost, you >> live>>in Manitoba.>>>> If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you>>live in Manitoba.>>>> If you find -20 degrees "a little chilly", you live in >> Manitoba.>>

Putting Numbers To Feed Switch From Corn To Wheat

http://blogs.dtn.com/roller/grainmarkets/entry/200702203

A DTN blog post looking at opinions on the predicted switches in feed rations.

Manitoba Hopper Populations Predicted To Be Light In 2007

Hopper map

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/insects/forecast/grasshopper_interp.html

Manitoba's Hopper survey. This looks good for 2007.

Our retail has light land to the east and south of it. We go through 96 jugs of Lorsban most years fighting hoppers. 2006 was a down year, but if the cattle men in hopper friendly country have to start fighting the critters things heat up fast.

I'm optomistic 2007 looks good

Soil Moisture Maps From Around The World

Soil moisture charts from around the world. We are looking pretty good. I know we seem to be cut off right at the 49 th but compared to the rest of the world N. America seems to have good soil moisture.

Commodity Funds Doing a Little Profit Taking on Canola:

http://news.tradingcharts.com/futures/0/4/89631140.html?mpop

This is another example of investment funds having impact on the market. It's only really bad if they quit trading altogether.

Hopper Reports Point to Low Populations in 2007

http://www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/production/grshop01.asp

Sask. Ag. site for hopper populations.

Omega-3 Flax Plant Will Use One Million Bu. of Flax

I was just browsing the Canola Guide (Feb. 07) The article on the Brandon flax processing plant (Brandon flax plant builds on health food hype) presents some good math for demand.

According to the article the plant will need 1 million bu of flax at full production. If demand grows to it's potential that number could increase 7 fold.

I did some quick number crunching:

• one million Bu of flax would be 40,000 to 50,000 acres


• Manitoba production has ranged from 278,000 to 418,000 acres between 01 and 05


• my calculator puts that at 10% or so of acres


• 7 times that number would take up more than 1/2 of Manitoba's acres (ok 70%)

A lot of factors will come into play before Omega-3 oil will spike up the flax market. But this shows potential to be a good price driver in the future.

http://www.shapefoods.com/default.html I just googled Shape food to look at there web site. I use to have a rule "If a company does not upkeep their website do not invest" Decide for yourself on this site.

Protect-It insecticide for stored grain

Applying with aeration
Protect it on Insect skin (?)

http://www.hedleytech.com/techbulletin.htm

Hedley Tech is putting out a lot of sales info. on their Protect-It insecticide. This is an effective safe product for stored grain. They use a fresh water form of diatomacetous earth (DE) that is safe to handle.

Rust reporting service from the States: This is pretty good

FileMaker Instant Web Publishing

Please check this out. I plan on using this in the summer to monitor the chances of rust infestions,

Pest Management - Plant Disease Managing Cereal Leaf Diseases - Diseases - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Pest Management - Plant Disease Managing Cereal Leaf Diseases - Diseases - Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

This is an updated Fact Sheet (Jan 06) from Manitoba Agriculture that caught my eye. This is pretty good please have a look

FAQ - Watch for Crown Rust on Oat in Southeast Saskatchewan This Season

Crown rust picture at right


FAQ - Watch for Crown Rust on Oat in Southeast Saskatchewan This Season





I'm big on appling fungicide on oats. I really think it pays with yield, weight and quality at a low initial cost.

Malt Barley Premiun Really Stinks; Well they don't really exist this year do they

The Truth about Marketing Choice: Where are the premiums?

I'm not big on putting any thing political on Field Scout, but of course here is something. The posted Blog is Dave Anderson's ( a conservative MP who looks like a CWB opponent) I wanted to post it to get a take on the feed and malt barley situation.

Price for malt barley is bad compared to feed. This is a short term situation, due to unforeseen factors in the market. I'm posting a few items just to address it.

My understanding is because of shortages in barley and corn, feed barley is at a premium ($3.50/bu or so). CWB is lagging in price on malt and CWB opponents are making much of this. I would be a lot ticked to if my malt will gross $2.50 or so and my nieghbour is getting $3 plus with a lot less hassle for feed barley. That is the contract however and if I was a malting company I would do the same.

This situation will not continue. malt barley has to go at a premium or there will not be much grown.

It is an interesting point ( I've heard) that CWB prices for malt always lag the rest of North America. I intend to look at that and see if it is true. I know two years ago one of my producers recieved $5 a bu for malt barley on a special contract .

Saskatoon Homepage.ca - Preventing Glyphosate Resistant Weeds:

Saskatoon Homepage.ca - Its All About Your Community. - Preventing Glyphosate Resistant Weeds

This guy is wrong you know. If he does not think Volunteer roundup ready canola is not a weed he is really missing the boat

Market Talk: Flax Cash Bids Slowly Firming

Market Talk: Flax Cash Bids Slowly Firming

Flax won't get back on the radar till it hits a firm $8 per bu.
I'm pretty darn sure there are a few bins of flax sitting waiting for a price. I cannot see acres take any huge jumps or any huge drops for that matter
If you look at flax acres over a long period there is little change

Bloomberg.com: Special Report

Bloomberg.com: Special Report

Another web sit I monitor is Bloomberg. As you will see from this article they have a bit of a irreverent edge to there articles.

This post has nothing to do with agriculture really, but the reference to depression interested me. I've seen mood disorders (depression) in the workplace. It can be truly hard to deal with and there is little sympathy on any one's part. Often in fact no one seems to realize what they are dealing with.

I posted this to increase awareness of the is wide spread but largely unacknowledged problem.

DTN Interview With A US Born Brazilian Grower

http://dtnag.com/index.cfm?show=803&product=/ag/home/dtnagnews&id=07027F5D

This is an interesting post. The growers comments about tech. lag in Brazil and the reasons for it caught my eye. I also noted the statement about GM soybeans not being the norm. I thought that even without gov. approval a lot of soybean production in Brazil was GM (?)

This guy really sounds like a producer, take note of the reference to seeding rate recommendations from his seed supplier and from his agronomist.

Positive Pea Price Post: Mike Jubinville of Pro Farmer Canada checks in with a positive outlook for peas

http://www.fcc-fac.ca/newsletters/en/express/articles/20070216_e.asp#10

A few comments on the post;

Just talked to the husband of a Chem rep. who spent the a day at a pulse growers seminar. She came away with a lot of positive price news from growers. Peas close to here were looking to be down (in acres) this coming year. I don't know if this will change things. My clients grow 1500 to 2000 most years, maybe 3000 on a good year when we get a new grower or two. Things were looking to be about 1000 ac.(?) this year. Good price news may bring up a few acres, but most pea growers are large growers with the set ups for growing them. I don't know if this will have a large effect.

Mike Jubinville is a good analyst (he is hot right now?) I have some growers use his services and I heard him at Ag Days and came away impressed. But like I say he is hot right now and talking about hot markets so it can be easy to sound good.

Stockhouse.ca : US MIDDAY: wheat sharply higher

Stockhouse.ca : US MIDDAY: wheat sharply higher

Positive news on wheat price. I've heard the part about some livestock rations changing to wheat from corn before. That is easier said than done. From what I hear it will happen but not a huge switch

Stockhouse.ca : Agricore pre-tax earnings should top $8-million

Stockhouse.ca : Agricore pre-tax earnings should top $8-million

Sounds like AU is having a good year.

George Morris Centre Article On A Low Dollar: Spin on increasing productivity and solving the (skilled) labour shortages

http://www.georgemorris.org/aspx/Public/Utils/DbFileViewerPopup.aspx?FileID=264

I'm on a dollar kick lately. I may be the result of spending large on Mickey the last week?

George Morris Centre is an Ag think tank. I monitor there site. I have not seen enough to know there political leaning, but I intend in the next couple of weeks to have a more in depth look.

Canola College Registration

Canola College Registration

I'm attending the Canola Council's meeting again this year. I usually take a couple of growers and plan to again this year.

This is a good meeting. Take a look

Dollar Chart: Short Term Rally (?) Before A Longer Term Down Trend (?)

http://futures.tradingcharts.com/chart/CD/37

As every one knows ( or boy you better know) a weak dollar is good for farming in Canada.

Global Warming Pictures

Dry Chinese Lake bed
Frozen Californian Fruit
Cowboy in Texas using an ice scraper
Australian farmer walking in the drought
BC ice storm damage

It seems to be accepted now that global warning is real. The above are some pics from the Globe and Mail showing some of the results world wide.

The implications from global warming sounds bad for a lot of the world, but pretty good for northern prairies agriculture. More rain more frost free days could add up to our area becoming more productive in the next 100 years or so.

Assert Sweatheart Sale: Using Valentine's Day To Sell Herbicide(?), Now I Have Seen It All

Nufarm Agriculture Inc. is having a sale on Assert. Like the sign says $65 per case off if you make a move by Feb 21, 2007

My two cents worth:

THE GOOD: Assert is actually a pretty good product. Very easy on the crop. (which is nice for barley growers) It provides a change from Group One wild oat products. If you can put it on early you can get the cost down to $14 per acre ( good for a full rate wild oat chemical) As a bonus by itself it is active on Mustard, wild buckwheat and stinkweed.

THE BAD: Assert is kind of limited with tank mixes. As soon as you add a tankmix you have to incease rates. ($14 per acre to $17 per acre). You have to apply before wild oats are 4 leaf or control really drops off. Unlike most wild oat products Assert has zero activity on green foxtail.

Assert does have it's place. If you are planning to use any give you dealer a call.

Disney and Florida Were Good

I enjoyed DisneyWorld a lot. My kids, 11 and 13, are a good age for the tour and Barb and I had a ball. They really know how to take care of every detail. I think our kids would like to do that again. The bad thing about that is there will be little money in the family coffers after this trip.

One more note. If you every get to see Cirque de Soile (sic?) do it. Truly great

Off To DisneyWorld

We're taking off Wednesday for DisneyWorld. We (I) always wanted to go. The kids are good ages and it does not hurt to get away from the cold for a few days.

I won't be posting for a few days. I'm sure I'll have lots to relay when I get back..

Tinkerbell is the picture

Market Talk: Cdn Canola Production Overstated?: Ave. Yield Lower Than Stated?

Market Talk: Cdn Canola Production Overstated?

I've heard this 1 million carry over number before. It sounds like traders are thinking along with the huge crush, that yield was not were it was last pegged(?)

Canadian Dollar (CD, CME): Weekly Price Chart

Canadian Dollar (CD, CME): Weekly Price Chart

A posted link to technical analysis of the Dollar chart.

You can see the dip in the posted chart.

Investing Insight - Sympatico / MSN Finance - Latest C$ skid not seen as low for 2007: traders

Investing Insight - Sympatico / MSN Finance - Latest C$ skid not seen as low for 2007: traders

A drop in the dollar (prediction of a drop) is always good news;. Part of the problems with cash crop production has been a strong dollar.

I hope the predicted drop occurs. Please note the call for this to occur in the middle of the year. That should be watched in case the dollar rebounds late in the year. Just in time for marketing off the combine.

I'm only in slight distress for the Bears. It was a good Super Bowl

Winnipeg Commodity Exchange -

Winnipeg Commodity Exchange - The WCE looks to be ready to help with price discovery for barley. I noticed the mention of the Wheat board PRO's being $34 per tonne to low.

I still have not caught up on reading my last two posts. I spent the day at hockey camp with my son.

I promise to get at it tomorrow, It's my Barb's turn to go to the camp tommorrow.

Go Bears

Feed Values Paper:Informa Economics article:: I really enjoy there "stuff"

Clck the title for the link:
I'm going to read this one tomorrow too.

Oh yeah Go Bears

The Daily, Wednesday, January 31, 2007. Stocks of grain

The Daily, Wednesday, January 31, 2007. Stocks of grain

Stats Canada post. I have not looked at it yet. I just got my oldest back from hockey, I'll maybe look in the morning.

Anyway enjoy the posted link.

Go Bears

Seed Manitoba 2007; A great tool for variety selection

Great book. I think this is "must read" material for any cash crop producer. Unbiased information covering everything in one book. They are available at your local GO office (Manitoba Agriculture). THEY'RE FREE FOR GOD'S SAKE. Why not pick one up.

I know test plots don't always show the best in a variety. But you know when seed companies complain about how terrible the testing standards are they must be at the bottom of the list.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d03.html

Grain Storage Insects: Lots This Year

One little, two little, three little critters


http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/faa06s00.html

This has been a bad year for bugs in grain. It's a little late but I've posted the Manitoba Ag Fact sheet on the "critters" and control. It's pretty good

Two notes;

1. You can destroy these things with cold. Read the factsheet on that.


2. Insecto/Protect It and some other products on the market are 90% diatomaceous earth. They price out at $100 or so per bag (10kg). Diatomaceous earth at a feed supply prices at $35 (or so) per bag (25kg).

FlaxMax DLX: A New Wrinkle For Flax

BASF is using a new "dim" tepraloxydim as the Group one cereal control product in FlaxMax DLX. I've had problems in the past with Poast ( the old group one in FlaxMax) getting control for the past 5 years. It got to the point we stopped using the product. I'm optomistic this change will improve control

MY HISTORY WITH FLAXMAX ULTRA;

I'd always been a big fan of FlaxMax Ultra (or the tank mix). At first the price kind of held back users. As producers started to see how well it controlled thistle and how easy it was on the flax I really saw a lot of it used.

I started tankmixing Select/Centurion ( to replace Poast as the Group one) with Curtail M(to replace FlaxMax) before it was registered. At first I did it because we ran out of FlaxMax Ultra later we had problems with control of Volunteer cereals and later still (I think) with Group one resistance. Our farm supply was happy to see the Centurion/Curtail M tankmix registered for flax last year. We had almost totally changed our clients over anyway.

Grain and Oilseed Charts: This has been a great run up

Chart 1 Canola run up$240 to $380 per tonne Chart 2 Barley run up $120 t0 $185
I had a farmer in yesterday talking about marketing his barley. He was turning down $3.10 per bu delivered. He is thinking $3.50 if he has to deliver.

Report on Business Television: Agrium Checks In With Healthy Agricultural Picture

Report on Business Television

"Ag Industry On Fire"

Guide To Field Crop Protection 2007 Edition: Hot Off The Press

I just picked up my copy. They are available at your local GO Centre (the Manitoba AG office in town). The price dropped 1% due to the GST decrease. The local office still charged me $10?

This book is a great starting point for your "Crop Protection" decisions. Everything is in one book. The "Guide" is also handy for quick reference in the field. Great Unbiased information!

http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/cropproduction/gaa01d01.html a link to the Manitoba Govererment site

Just a little note you can view or print "The Guide" on the posted website.