Hursh Comment

Toby Torkelson of Rayglen Commodities in Saskatoon has put together a full spreadsheet on expected revenue, expenses and returns for various 2011 crop choices. The spreadsheet does an excellent job of detailing both variable and overhead expenses for 23 different crops. It’s based on cropping conditions in the dark brown soil zone where a wide …

Most, but not all grain prices are much higher than a year ago at this time. On its website, if you know where to look, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture publishes a market trends report that compares current prices with prices a year ago. At this time last year, the flax market was plagued by …

According to the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, the Canadian Wheat Board election is flawed. Retired and hobby farmers skew the election results say the Wheat Growers. On the other hand, they say bona fide farmers have rejected the election process. It smacks a bit of sour grapes, but the Wheat Growers do have some …

Canadian Wheat Board election results were announced yesterday (Sunday). Directors were up for election in the odd-numbered districts. The overall ballot response rate was just 41.3 per cent. As of last night, the actual vote counts had not been released. In District 1, incumbent Henry Vos of Fairview, Alberta was returned for a second term. …

“He can’t see the forest for all the trees.” It’s an old saying, but it often applies to agriculture. We sometimes make this mistake when we try to access grain markets. We focus on one factor rather than the big picture. That’s happening with the debate over canola acres. Some observers are predicting a big …

In many cases, producers could be scrambling to find good seed for next year. Bruce Carriere of Discovery Seeds in Saskatoon says that in his 19 years in business he’s never seen anything quite so ugly.  Germination and vigor are low; disease is high. For instance, on red lentils, fewer than 10 per cent of …

A number of new factors positive to grain markets have emerged in recent weeks. The grain export ban in Russia is old news, but market analysts are now pointing to the recent cold snap in Russia that may have affected the winter wheat crop. In Australia, the story in recent weeks has been heavy rains …

It’s never fun at the time, but now it’s fascinating to look back at the pictures. The 2010 growing season must have set records for farm equipment mired in the mud. You’ve probably seen some of those shots circulating by email.  In case you’ve haven’t discovered it, there’s a website set up with scores of …

As grain producers make cropping and marketing decisions for the upcoming growing season, the number one concern continues to be too much moisture. For years, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has published a stubble soil moisture map around this time. Not this year. Except for a few localized exceptions, the entire Saskatchewan grain belt has …

We have friends who spend a good chunk of the winter on Vancouver Island. Here’s a story they emailed us from the Left Coast: Animal lovers are nuts here. Hundreds of wild rabbits at the University in Victoria were captured by a group called EARS, the Earth Animal Humane Education and Rescue Society. The rabbits …

It sure isn’t easy to do export business these days. Pulse Canada reports that it’s continuing to work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and industry players on a trade problem with India. India wants pulse shipments to be 100 per cent free of soil, something that isn’t possible with crops that you often have …

Producers are watching grain, oilseed and specialty crop markets with great interest these days as they make marketing decisions as well as cropping decisions for next year. The feed grain complex has been strengthening with better prices for feed barley in the domestic market. Pea prices have also improved with yellow peas now approaching $7 …