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.
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!
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 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.
Oct 10/06: Canadian Wheat Bids Up On Year
The Saskatchewan non-board wheat price in August was $91.87 per metric tons, reports Statistics Canada, down 3% from July but up 28% from August 2005 when the price was $71.56.
The August slaughter steer price in Quebec was $85.61 per hundredweight, down 2% from one month earlier and down 1% from the August 2005 price of $86.91.
The August slaughter steer price in Quebec was $85.61 per hundredweight, down 2% from one month earlier and down 1% from the August 2005 price of $86.91.
Oct 03/06: Canadian Farmland Values Rise
Canadian farmland values rose 2.1% during the first size months of 2006, compared to the 1.5% increase recorded during the last half of 2005, reports Farm Credit Canada (FCC).
The largest increase is in British Columbia where values grew by 10.3%. Alberta shows the second largest increase at 3.9%.
Manitoba, along with Newfoundland and Labrador, follow with increases at 2.8 and 2.9% respectively. Ontario and Nova Scotia increased similarly by 2.1 and 2.0% respectively. New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Quebec increased slightly by 1.1, 0.8 and 0.6% respectively. Values remain steady in Prince Edward Island.
Looking back, the recent period with the strongest gains was 2004 when farmland values rose 2.3% during the first half of the year and 2.2% during the last half. The poorest recent performance was in 2005 when farmland values rose 1.6% the first half of the year and 1.5% the last half.
The largest increase is in British Columbia where values grew by 10.3%. Alberta shows the second largest increase at 3.9%.
Manitoba, along with Newfoundland and Labrador, follow with increases at 2.8 and 2.9% respectively. Ontario and Nova Scotia increased similarly by 2.1 and 2.0% respectively. New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Quebec increased slightly by 1.1, 0.8 and 0.6% respectively. Values remain steady in Prince Edward Island.
Looking back, the recent period with the strongest gains was 2004 when farmland values rose 2.3% during the first half of the year and 2.2% during the last half. The poorest recent performance was in 2005 when farmland values rose 1.6% the first half of the year and 1.5% the last half.
Sep 11/06: Manitoba Non-Board Wheat Market Up
Statistics Canada reports wheat farmers in Manitoba received an average CDN $116.30 per metric ton (MT) in July for sales outside the Canadian Wheat Board, up 2% from June and up 34% from July 2005 when the price was $86.63.
The July feeder cattle price in Ontario was $104.27 per hundredweight, down 1% from one month earlier but up 9% from the July 2005 price of $95.39.
The July feeder cattle price in Ontario was $104.27 per hundredweight, down 1% from one month earlier but up 9% from the July 2005 price of $95.39.
Apr 13/06: U.S. Ag Trade Surplus Shrinks
The USDA reports that during the first five months of 2006 fiscal year, agricultural exports from the United States were valued at $1.7 billion higher than the same period in fiscal 2005; while imports are $3 billion higher.
The trade surplus continues to shrink, falling from $4.3 billion in the first 5 months of fiscal 2005 to $3 billion in 2006. From January to February, U.S. agricultural export value fell by nearly $60 million, while imports fell by about $540 million. Given this large decline in imports, the monthly trade surplus grew to $560 million—up from $79 million in January.
Rising cotton value and volume boosted export sales in February. Gains in year-to-date export values continued strong for rice, fruits, nuts, and red meat. On the import side, robust growth continues for coffee, malt beverages, vegetables, vegetable oils, live animals, and rubber.
The trade surplus continues to shrink, falling from $4.3 billion in the first 5 months of fiscal 2005 to $3 billion in 2006. From January to February, U.S. agricultural export value fell by nearly $60 million, while imports fell by about $540 million. Given this large decline in imports, the monthly trade surplus grew to $560 million—up from $79 million in January.
Rising cotton value and volume boosted export sales in February. Gains in year-to-date export values continued strong for rice, fruits, nuts, and red meat. On the import side, robust growth continues for coffee, malt beverages, vegetables, vegetable oils, live animals, and rubber.
