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The Rural Voice, 1993-12, Page 23Grain Markets r and secondly price ratios will have to promote corn planting. Until now, the soy/corn ratio has narrowed in from 2.9:1 and at today's ratio, many farmers will opt to replace soybean acreage with corn. As well, look for the weather to be more conducive to corn production than it was in 1993. In Ontario, harvest is wrapping up in Western Ontario where yields are somewhat disappointing. The quality of corn in the north (Grey, Bruce) has been generally lower than normal with a large quantity of grades 4, 5 and sample showing up. The result may be a crop of less than 170 million bushels which could lead to a very tight stocks situation next September depending, of course, on the level of imports and exports. Presently, the Ontario market is being driven by strong export demand and tight farmer holding. Users of truck corn are resisting the strong cash prices in Ontario and while feed manufacturers can substitute other grains, industrial processors depend on corn as their only raw product. Today, both of these sectors are buying "hand to mouth" and are unwilling to book corn ahead at a good carry. They are both of the opinion that basis levels will eventually back off. Basis levels in Ontario appear to be strong, but have strengthened by only 9 cents/bu. in U.S. funds. It is the higher futures prices and low Canadian dollar that have combined to move Ontario basis levels higher while in fact we remain at the export floor. With futures prices trending higher, corn prices are looking fairly respectable. All one has to do is look at historical futures charts to realize that prices don't stay high for very long. They always get to a point where cheaper feedstuffs are substituted and prices generally grind lower over a long period. I'm not an advisor, but when cash prices are near $3.00/bu and new crop 1994 prices are near $3.00/bu, corn producers should shift some of their risk to the users. SOYBEANS Like corn, the projected size of the U.S. soybean crop caught the traders by surprise at 1.834 billion bushels. This figure is less than normal total use but still larger than domestic demand. The HUREX EQUIPMENT & TOOLS 275 Main Street North Exeter, Ontario NOM 1 S3 SAVE 5O 2YR. WAR ARTY Drill Press Bench Model $249 FModel $277 Cordless Screw Driver 28 inch pounds torque i $19.77Q -«. SAVE $1 O Chain Saw Chain 1 1 (519) 235-09181 1 1 1 1 Stihl Chain Saw MDL 039 — 64cc with FREE $75 KIT $519 SAVE $70 PLUS Milwaukee MdI. #6511 SAWSALL with Case & Blades $1 79 SAVE $30 12" Thickness Planer 15 amp 2 yr Warranty $499 IME ti �j irvz SAVE $66 1 1 1 1 1 J 'The Management and Staff of Monoway Farms of Brussels wish aff of our customers a very Merry Christmas. It has been our pleasure to provide you with quality breeding stockin 1993. We look forward to serving you in 1994. OtOWAV FARMS YORKSHIRE fir LANDRACE DUROC HAMPSHIRE Wayne Fear and Sons ROP Tested - QS Approved Purebred and Crossbred Gilts and Boars York-Landrace-Hamp-Duroc, F1 York x Landrace Gilts F1 Hamp x Duroc Boars Herd Health Good •• R. R. 4 Brussels, Ontario Wayne or Paul Fear Farm: (519) 887-6477 Evenings Res.: 887-9190 Evenings Paul: 887-6477 Don Ruttan Q.S. Rep. 887-9884 DECEMBER 1993 19