The Rural Voice, 1992-07, Page 14FARMGATES
FEEDERS
FEED WAGONS
irk ,.� r'Aft
701, Ara airt
,
RUGGED DEPENDABLE
RELIABLE
3 models • 1" square tubing
• 1 1/4" square tubing
CHEAPER
FIELD GATES
liallasiiiiiimmi
allintit,/
1
7' X 8' Single Bale Feeder
for 4' and 5' round bales
and larger sizes available
pl
Econo Model Feed Wagon
For further information call:
Owen Martin
Manufacturing
HAWKESVILLE, Ontario
519-699-4144
95 Dealers Across Ontario
Call For Your Nearest Dealer
10 THE RURAL VOICE
Robert Mercer
The strange quirks
of springtime weather
This spring has been one of the
most volatile weather markets on
record for agricultural commodities. It
is not so much in
price volatility as
it has been in
weather volatility.
We have seen ex-
tremes of heat and
cold, also rains
and droughts.
Weather fore-
casting is good
for a day at a
time, a week is
risky and a whole
growing season
definitely unwise.
Yet this year the
extremes in the
weather tend to
suggest that there will be problems
somewhere, and this is a year when
with low carryover stocks, we can do
without any weather problems.
Africa has been hit with a severe
drought. Kenya and South Africa are
importing grains rather than being self-
sufficient. Last year the Australian
grain harvest was devastated and the
problems continue. Texas has too
much rain, Kansas had too much frost
and the central/north U.S. Plains and
areas of the Prairies too little moisture.
In northem Illinois it has been the
driest May on record, with only 0.7"
recorded against an average of over
4.0" for the month.
On June 1 this year Environment
Canada in Winnipeg and Edmonton
issued a joint briefing note on "Agri-
cultural drought looms over western
Prairies". This release raised concerns,
especially for pasture availability this
year. It said "Extremely low root -zone
soil moisture levels in southeastern
Alberta and the southwest comer of
Saskatchewan mean that these areas
have a high risk of crop failure this
year." Low soil moisture levels are
also raising concerns in northeastern
Alberta and across the entire western
half of Saskatchewan.
Texas ranks near the top in the U.S.
for cattle production, but many animals
are slogging through muddy feedlots
this spring. Only minor health
problems were reported in June, but
things could get worse and normal
feeding operations had been disrupted.
It will be a miracle if there is a
good to normal harvest in the northern
hemisphere this year. In the meantime
Ontario conditions have been good to
excellent. Some winter wheat got hit
in the Niagara/ Brant area and the cool
spring delayed growth. The early
hay/haylage crop was shorter than
normal. Other than a few delays,
especially with small grains, the spring
seeded crops basically went in on time.
The quirks of this year's season
basically boil down to the fact that, in
the U.S., it's been dryer earlier than
normal. It's also been cooler longer
than normal. For some, it's the El
Nino; for others, the effects of the
massive ash cloud thrown up by Mt.
Pinatuba in the Philippines last year.
Whatever is the cause it is making for
an interesting year on the farm.0
Robert Mercer is editor of the
Broadwater Market Letter, a weekly
commodity and policy advisory letter
from Goodwood, Ontario LOC IAO
WE WANT
YOUR GRAIN!
Corn
Soybeans
Feed Grains
Quality Oats
Damaged Grains
CASH & FORWARD CONTRACTS
Call us today for Quotes
Dave Gordon
Elizabeth Armstrong
Richard Smibert
Ian Carter
london agricultural commodities. Inc.
1112 HYDE PARK ROAD
HYDE PARK, ONTARIO
NOM 120
519-473-9333
Toll -Free (519) 1-800-265-1885
(416-705) 1-800-265-1874
1