Dec 08/08: Canadian Field Pea Exports Slow
The first 60 days of the marketing year were really good for peas. A record volume was exported in August and September, with India taking over 400,000 metric tons (MT) in September. If current forecasts hold true, almost a quarter of all field peas that will be exported from Canada this year shipped in those two months. But, just as remarkable is how quickly export demand has faded.
Until official trade data is available from Statistics Canada, the only indication of the health of the export trade comes from the Canadian Grain Commission and the Canadian Ports Clearance Association. Their data reveals that by the middle of November, pea exports through bulk grain terminals are now down almost 180,000 MT from last year. This does not mean that exporters for the entire marketing year will be down as much, but it does raise questions about where field pea prices will go during the balance of the marketing year.
When you are trying to answer this question for yourself, there are couple of things you need to bear in mind. All food products are renewable and it, or a substitute, is being grown somewhere in the world at any given time. This means that shortages are always cured. Secondly, when a food item is not consumed, that demand is lost forever. You compensate for that problem by having as many customers in as many different parts of the world as possible. As usage drops off in one region, we try to expand sales in another.
Until official trade data is available from Statistics Canada, the only indication of the health of the export trade comes from the Canadian Grain Commission and the Canadian Ports Clearance Association. Their data reveals that by the middle of November, pea exports through bulk grain terminals are now down almost 180,000 MT from last year. This does not mean that exporters for the entire marketing year will be down as much, but it does raise questions about where field pea prices will go during the balance of the marketing year.
When you are trying to answer this question for yourself, there are couple of things you need to bear in mind. All food products are renewable and it, or a substitute, is being grown somewhere in the world at any given time. This means that shortages are always cured. Secondly, when a food item is not consumed, that demand is lost forever. You compensate for that problem by having as many customers in as many different parts of the world as possible. As usage drops off in one region, we try to expand sales in another.
Dec 05/08: Specialty Crop Exporter Rant
Canada's specialty crop exporters have been bearing the brunt of the international financial crisis for many months.But, the situation has worsened since prices started to collapse during the summer of 2008.
The level of frustration, anger, and fear in the industry is typified by an email message which has been sweeping through the trade. Following is the anonymous email message:
The level of frustration, anger, and fear in the industry is typified by an email message which has been sweeping through the trade. Following is the anonymous email message:
Dec 02/08: Canadian Political Turmoil
Lost in the current debate in Canada over the fate of the government, is the fate of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB). Stripping the CWB of its monopoly over export grain marketing is a long standing goal of the current iteration of the Conservative party and formed part of its policy platform during the last election.
However, the inability of the Conservative Party to obtain more than minority support from Canadian voters prevented it from gaining the majority needed to change the way western Canadian is marketed.
The only way to fundamentally change grain marketing in western Canada would have been to capitulate to the will of the Canadian electorate and work in deep cooperation with at least one of the opposition parties. Such a coalition would have enabled the Conservatives to move forward on numerous fronts and avoid the current political turmoil.
Unfortunately, cooperation does not seem to be part of Harper's chemistry. In defiance of the wishes of the Canadian electorate he has instead tried to beat and bully the opposition parties and the majority of Canadian into submission. This neither leadership nor the type of politics Canadians voted for in the last election. They clearly voted for a coalition government, asking Harper to be its leader. Instead, he refuses to lead a coalition, gambling with the future of both his government and his "leadership".
However, the inability of the Conservative Party to obtain more than minority support from Canadian voters prevented it from gaining the majority needed to change the way western Canadian is marketed.
The only way to fundamentally change grain marketing in western Canada would have been to capitulate to the will of the Canadian electorate and work in deep cooperation with at least one of the opposition parties. Such a coalition would have enabled the Conservatives to move forward on numerous fronts and avoid the current political turmoil.
Unfortunately, cooperation does not seem to be part of Harper's chemistry. In defiance of the wishes of the Canadian electorate he has instead tried to beat and bully the opposition parties and the majority of Canadian into submission. This neither leadership nor the type of politics Canadians voted for in the last election. They clearly voted for a coalition government, asking Harper to be its leader. Instead, he refuses to lead a coalition, gambling with the future of both his government and his "leadership".
it seems that western Canadian wheat producers are the ones who will pay the price for federal governments anger with the Canadian Wheat Board. On August 15, the CWB asked for an increase in initial payments.
On September 21, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz finally responded publicly to the request. He said farmers are just going to have to keep waiting while he studies the matter.
"My departmental officials and I are working hard to do the due diligence to review the request, and deliver the best possible decision as quickly as possible."
At the same time, Ritz slammed the wheat board for waiting until August 15 to make the request. He said it was obvious wheat and malting barley prices were rising.
Why is the minister refusing to act when it is still, to quote Ritz, "clear that commodity prices were rising". Please, Minister Ritz, stop making farmers pay for your antagonism toward the wheat board and let them have access to their money!
On September 21, agriculture minister Gerry Ritz finally responded publicly to the request. He said farmers are just going to have to keep waiting while he studies the matter.
"My departmental officials and I are working hard to do the due diligence to review the request, and deliver the best possible decision as quickly as possible."
At the same time, Ritz slammed the wheat board for waiting until August 15 to make the request. He said it was obvious wheat and malting barley prices were rising.
Why is the minister refusing to act when it is still, to quote Ritz, "clear that commodity prices were rising". Please, Minister Ritz, stop making farmers pay for your antagonism toward the wheat board and let them have access to their money!
Apr 11/07: Farm Injuries Decline With Age
Statistics Canada has found that on farms, with age comes wisdom, and an solid reduction in the number and severity of injuries.
Farm operators aged 55 and over were less likely in 2001 to have reported a farm injury than those in younger age categories, contrary to what is usually expected in the industry. In fact, operators younger than 35 were more likely to have a farm injury.
Farm operators aged 55 and over were less likely in 2001 to have reported a farm injury than those in younger age categories, contrary to what is usually expected in the industry. In fact, operators younger than 35 were more likely to have a farm injury.
Mar 09/07: Sustainable Farming Tool
It is now possible for farmers to compare their current management practices with 'best practices' for sustainable agriculture using a free online tool developed by Food Alliance in partnership with Oregon State University and Washington State University, and with support from USDA Risk Management Agency.
Nov 24/06: Canada's Farm Cash Receipts Rise
Canadian farmers realized more money from the sale of their agricultural output during the first nine months of the year, according to Statistics Canada, as a gain in revenue from the sale of crops offset a decline in livestock sales.
Farmers received $23.4 billion in market revenue between January and September, up 0.6% from the same period last year. This total was 3.5% below the 2001 peak of $24.2 billion, and only 0.9% above the previous five-year average between 2001 and 2005.
Farmers received $23.4 billion in market revenue between January and September, up 0.6% from the same period last year. This total was 3.5% below the 2001 peak of $24.2 billion, and only 0.9% above the previous five-year average between 2001 and 2005.
Nov 22/06: Compensation for Losing CWB Demanded
The Canadian government is being called upon to pay western Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) permit holders at least CDN $6 billion if plans to dismantle the board or create a dual track system come to fruition.
Vicki Dutton, who is running as a candidate for the CWB board of directors in District 5, said the government should take the opportunity to redress past wrongs to western Canadian farmers by offering appropriate compensation for the loss of the single desk marketing system.
"If we cannot agree on how we market wheat and barley, let us at least agree that this asset be used as bargaining power going forward," she argues.
Vicki Dutton, who is running as a candidate for the CWB board of directors in District 5, said the government should take the opportunity to redress past wrongs to western Canadian farmers by offering appropriate compensation for the loss of the single desk marketing system.
"If we cannot agree on how we market wheat and barley, let us at least agree that this asset be used as bargaining power going forward," she argues.
Nov 14/06: Ontario Hog Returns Ease
Canadian hog pirces declined in September, according to Statistics Canada, coming in at $68.97 per hundredweight in Ontario, down 1% from August and down 0.4% from $69.49 last year.
The September feed barley price in Alberta was $100.30 per metric ton, up 10% from one month earlier and up 13% from the September 2005 price of $88.49.
The September feed barley price in Alberta was $100.30 per metric ton, up 10% from one month earlier and up 13% from the September 2005 price of $88.49.
Oct 12/06: Slight Increase in Retail Food Prices
Retail prices for food at the supermarket increased slightly in the third quarter of 2006, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Marketbasket Survey in the United States. The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 basic grocery items in the third quarter of 2006 was $41.09, up about 3% or $1.13 from one year ago.
The surveyed items increased $1.18 in the third quarter of 2006, compared to the second quarter, when the survey items dropped by 82 cents. Of the 16 items surveyed, nine increased and seven decreased in average price compared to the 2006 second-quarter survey. Red Delicious apples showed the largest increase, up 33 cents to $1.51 per pound.
The surveyed items increased $1.18 in the third quarter of 2006, compared to the second quarter, when the survey items dropped by 82 cents. Of the 16 items surveyed, nine increased and seven decreased in average price compared to the 2006 second-quarter survey. Red Delicious apples showed the largest increase, up 33 cents to $1.51 per pound.
