The Rural Voice, 2005-09, Page 67Grain Markets
looks like the good pricing
opportunities are behind us and I am
of the opinion that our dollar will go
higher still, which will continue to
hurt the cash price in Ontario. The
loonie seems to be tied to crude oil
prices and 1 may be dreaming, but 1
believe oil prices are going to remain
firm.
Market prices are certainly in the
doldrums once again. The factors that
sent futures prices higher in June and
July have all but disappeared from
the picture. We can always look at
the positives in a market but we need
to keep in mind that a positive can
quickly turn to a negative and every
producer needs to have a backup
plan. Too many producers give their
elevator or trader an order then
simply forget about it. Those who
follow the markets closely are the
ones who managed to get grain sold
at decent prices once again this year.
Every one of us has the greed and
fear factor in us and greed seems to
manifest itself more than fear.
There is going to be a tug of war
waged about which grain is going to
he the most profitable to store. Right
now, wheat is showing the best carry
into the new year but soybeans are
catching up and by harvest. soys may
be the best prospect. Then. there is
the old crop corn. 1 do not expect that
producers will want to hang on to old
crop corn even it' the new crop
bushels are smaller than last year. I
think that storage space in Ontario
could he a premium in the "gut slot'
of harvest if harvest is finished in a
short period of time. The best
scenario for a producer from a basis
point of view is to have a drawn out
harvest to avoid a weakened basis
due to storage issues.
The September USDA report will
certainly tell more than the last
production report did and will give us
a better idea of yields. Once cob
weights and pod counts are done, we
should feel more confident in the data
they will provide. Typically a small
crop in August gets smaller, but I
have already seen that some analysts
have raised their soybean yield
prospects and only dropped corn
yields by one bushel from USDA's
figures. In the meantime, futures
prices will probably remain flat.0
Carol Riemer
Begond the bright citg lights
because of the change it will bring to
our family life, but because I, too,
have the haunting feeling that the city
will prove to more enticing to them
than the quiet country life they grew
up in. It's a concern that. no doubt.
affects many rural families.
The life and energy that the
younger generation breathes into
small towns and rural communities
should not be underestimated. With
the current lack of family doctors and
other professionals in smaller centres.
we need to encourage today's
graduates to consider moving back to
the country. and to bring with them
the best of their generation's talents
and training.
If not for the inherent attraction of
country living. I might be tempted to
despair But. there is something about
growing up in a rural community that
seems to exert a lifelong influence. I
suppose it has something to do with
the availability of space. and the
freedom of movement.
It might be rooted in the idea that
trees grow in soil. not cement. or that
we believe it is important to live in
concert with the land and the seasons.
On a hot summer night. the wild
scream of an ambulance or tire truck.
careening its way through city traffic.
can hardly compare to the symphony
of hulltrogs and criLkets that
emanates from a nearby marsh. And,
In the country. there:is a sense of
belonging that means you never feel
.hone Ina crowd
I)nRIng honie from the university.
1 watch the visual blur of electric
lights cut through the darkness. Rows
of street lights slowly disappear in
, the rear view mirror. I settle hack in
my seat. and breathe a quick sigh of
relief. as we escape the crowded
feeling of the city. Making our way
down the lonely highway. we're
headed toward a place where the full
mown casts its gentle glow across the
sleeping countryside. Somewhere.
beyond the bright city lights, the
warmth of our porch light. tw inkling
in the distance. is waiting to welcome
us home again.0
SEPTEMBER 2005 63
Carol Riemer
is a freelance
writer who
lives with her
husband and
two
children near
Grand
Valley,
Ontario.
While weeding the garden the
other day, 1 found myself absent-
mindedly humming a catchy little
tune that seems, upon reflection.
more relevant than ever these days.
Written in 1919 by Walter
Donaldson. the First World War -
inspired song. "How 'Ya Gonna
Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?"
captured a concern of the time that.
once the younger generation had been
to the city. country life would soon
lose its charm. Of course. other
influences inevitably interceded. The
Great War did a lot to change things.
and the world was never quite the
same.
Today. while satellite television
and high speed Internet leave little to
the imagination. the city. and all that
it offers. still acts as a magnet.
maintaining its hold with the same
enduring fascination.
Over the years. the average age
of farmers has been steadily
increasing. As the family farm has
come under greater stress. more and
more young people have been
moving into the city. Not only will
this continue to seriously impact on
farmers and their families. hut on
the entire rural community as a
whole.
1 on't dispute the fact that
additional education and training are
an important part of our children's
lives. and that they often need to
travel tar afield to follow their
interests. I lust hope that some of
them will return to help ensure the
well-being of the rural community.
This fall. both our children will he
of't' at university. and living away
from home. It's a prospect that 1 find
somewhat unsettling, not only