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The Rural Voice, 1986-04, Page 22YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR: Pesticide spraying equipment. aerial and ground application. SPRAYER PARTS for Hypro, Spraying Systems, Nardi, Vicon and George White. GSW and Pacer transfer pumps • Hand-held and knapsack sprayers • PVC and EVA and rubber hose for sprayers and pumps "Wholesale and Retail" MILTON J. DIETZ Limited R.R. 4, Seaforth 519.527-0608 20 THE RURAL VOICE FARM COMMODITY WATCH Prices as of the market close. Friday, March 14, 1986 CORN — During the recent month we have noticed a change in grain traders psychology. Old crop grains have been going down while new crop December futures have firmed. July corn finished at 2.32, a loss of 23/a cents over the month, while December corn closed at 2111/2, a gain of five cents over the month. Recent changes in the Farm Bill will bring more wheat and corn on to the market this summer, and this was primarily responsible for the weakness in old crop corn. The Planting Intentions report due out on March 18 is looking for intentions of 73 -million acres for corn, down from last year's acreage of 83.I -million acres. One of the most disappointing features in the corn market of late has been the lack of export interest. Despite improved currency values, there seems to be little world interest, as most buyers seem to feel that the longer they wait, the cheaper corn will get. With the new crop loan price being near 1.84, and with the record carryover few analysts look for significant upside potential at this time. **HEDGERS** please read my comments below. SOYBEANS — As with the corn market, traders seem to be buyers of new crop grain, and sellers of old crop. July beans closed at 5.401/2, a decline of '/ cent in the last month, while November beans finished at 5.211/2, a gain of 111/2 cents over the same period. The Planting Intentions report due out on March 18 is looking for 62.5 -million acres of beans planted, compared to last year's acreage of 63.1 -million acres. The ratio of the loan rates i.e. 4.77 for beans vs. 1.94 for corn (disregar- ding the recent 4.3 per cent budget cut) still favours bean plantings. Unlike the corn market, export in- terest has been brisk, as reduced South American crops are influen- cing the bean movement out of the states. The principal buyers have been the USSR, purchasing at least 1.4 million tonnes of beans rather than meal or oil. The new USSR crushing plants have allowed the U.S. to be a major supplier this year. **HEDGERS** might con- sider some of the comments below. LIVE CATTLE — June cattle traded in a wide sideways type of pattern over the month, finishing on Friday at 59.67, a decline of .25 from the levels of last month. Results of the March Cattle on Feed Report were deemed negative, showing: Cattle on Feed ....down 8 per cent Placements down 10 per cent Marketings down 5 per cent The marketings figure was lower than most traders expected, thus the negative reaction, but on a more positive note, the placements number showed a larger decline than anticipated; this should be friendly to longer term prices. Good weather has been con- tributing to weights, and unless movement becomes more brisk, feedlots will get over current. The overall feeling amongst the trade is that the lower numbers expected in spring of '86 will be offset by heavier weights associated with relatively cheap feed costs. **HEDGERS** must consider three variables: cattle price risk, feed cost risk, and Canadian Dollar risk. Of these three variables, I would urge producers to watch our dollar carefully — it's when you least expect it that major moves occur, and our currency bounced back very well from an immediate negative reaction to the budget. Also keep in mind that old adage "cheap feed means cheap meat." LIVE HOGS — Despite weakness in the product market, and tradi- tional weakness in hogs during the March timeframe, the hog market has put on a respectable perfor- mance over the last month. June hogs closed on Friday at 45.20, an improvement of 1.47 from levels of a month ago. The scenario of lower numbers and heavier weights is creating the same problem in the hog market as it is in the cattle market — the net result being larger amounts of meat. Poultry output continues to expand, and is expected to increase by about 7 per cent this quarter. Some analysts look for weakness in hog prices in- to late March and early April, and then for an improvement into sum- mer. **HEDGERS** might con- ac jas- L.Fa:?E.-t - -- "Ni 1IiSEraj = ti • Canadian Liquid Air Welding & Cutting Equipment • Miller Welders • Canadian Liquid Air Wires & Electrodes • Victor Welding & Cutting Equipment • Safety Equipment FOR WEEKLY DEPENDABLE DELIVERY CALL Durham Hardware & Equipment Limited 519-369-3546 409 Saddler St. W., Durham, Ont. NOG 1R0 1/3 CANADIAN LIQUID AIR DISTRIBUTOR 20 THE RURAL VOICE FARM COMMODITY WATCH Prices as of the market close. Friday, March 14, 1986 CORN — During the recent month we have noticed a change in grain traders psychology. Old crop grains have been going down while new crop December futures have firmed. July corn finished at 2.32, a loss of 23/a cents over the month, while December corn closed at 2111/2, a gain of five cents over the month. Recent changes in the Farm Bill will bring more wheat and corn on to the market this summer, and this was primarily responsible for the weakness in old crop corn. The Planting Intentions report due out on March 18 is looking for intentions of 73 -million acres for corn, down from last year's acreage of 83.I -million acres. One of the most disappointing features in the corn market of late has been the lack of export interest. Despite improved currency values, there seems to be little world interest, as most buyers seem to feel that the longer they wait, the cheaper corn will get. With the new crop loan price being near 1.84, and with the record carryover few analysts look for significant upside potential at this time. **HEDGERS** please read my comments below. SOYBEANS — As with the corn market, traders seem to be buyers of new crop grain, and sellers of old crop. July beans closed at 5.401/2, a decline of '/ cent in the last month, while November beans finished at 5.211/2, a gain of 111/2 cents over the same period. The Planting Intentions report due out on March 18 is looking for 62.5 -million acres of beans planted, compared to last year's acreage of 63.1 -million acres. The ratio of the loan rates i.e. 4.77 for beans vs. 1.94 for corn (disregar- ding the recent 4.3 per cent budget cut) still favours bean plantings. Unlike the corn market, export in- terest has been brisk, as reduced South American crops are influen- cing the bean movement out of the states. The principal buyers have been the USSR, purchasing at least 1.4 million tonnes of beans rather than meal or oil. The new USSR crushing plants have allowed the U.S. to be a major supplier this year. **HEDGERS** might con- sider some of the comments below. LIVE CATTLE — June cattle traded in a wide sideways type of pattern over the month, finishing on Friday at 59.67, a decline of .25 from the levels of last month. Results of the March Cattle on Feed Report were deemed negative, showing: Cattle on Feed ....down 8 per cent Placements down 10 per cent Marketings down 5 per cent The marketings figure was lower than most traders expected, thus the negative reaction, but on a more positive note, the placements number showed a larger decline than anticipated; this should be friendly to longer term prices. Good weather has been con- tributing to weights, and unless movement becomes more brisk, feedlots will get over current. The overall feeling amongst the trade is that the lower numbers expected in spring of '86 will be offset by heavier weights associated with relatively cheap feed costs. **HEDGERS** must consider three variables: cattle price risk, feed cost risk, and Canadian Dollar risk. Of these three variables, I would urge producers to watch our dollar carefully — it's when you least expect it that major moves occur, and our currency bounced back very well from an immediate negative reaction to the budget. Also keep in mind that old adage "cheap feed means cheap meat." LIVE HOGS — Despite weakness in the product market, and tradi- tional weakness in hogs during the March timeframe, the hog market has put on a respectable perfor- mance over the last month. June hogs closed on Friday at 45.20, an improvement of 1.47 from levels of a month ago. The scenario of lower numbers and heavier weights is creating the same problem in the hog market as it is in the cattle market — the net result being larger amounts of meat. Poultry output continues to expand, and is expected to increase by about 7 per cent this quarter. Some analysts look for weakness in hog prices in- to late March and early April, and then for an improvement into sum- mer. **HEDGERS** might con-