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The Rural Voice, 1998-02, Page 19Grain Markets inevitable and if the Canadian dollar does gain in the coming month, it might be prudent to lock in some new crop soy prices soon. FEEDGRAINS Feed grain prices have remained strong relative to corn with western barley selling for about $163 and western feed wheat trading for about $190 per mt. As you can sec, these prices have not dropped with corn prices. Ontario barley and mixed grain are both trading for about S135 per mt depending on the lot size and loading capabilities. The USDA sure surprised most traders and analysts with their January reports in much the same manner as last year. Corn prices were slumping until the bulletin report was issued and almost everyone was bearish. Last year when this happened, corn prices gain 60 cents, but on the strength of soybeans. This year, however, the news isn't as friendly for soybeans, so corn prices will have to strengthen on its own merit. Domestic feed usage in the U.S. will have to stay firm in order to meet the USDA's projected carryover because exports sure don't appear to be too brisk. Weather problems (El Nifio) in the coming spring or early summer will be the only factor left to force prices significantly higher as corn and soybean stocks appear to be sufficient, especially if South America continues to have ideal weather. Corn futures will likely continue to trade in a new price range for the next couple of months ($2.68 to $2.83) but soys could still drop off another 10 to 15 cents and hold if demand stays strong. I have to admit that I had a rather bearish attitude before the USDA report and in fact said that I couldn't see a report that would be friendly to grain prices. How wrong I was and producers can be just as wrong by getting too bullish when markets risc. The upshot is that all of us should be a bit more moderate in our thought process regarding markets and view opportunities to buy or sell profitably as just that — an opportunity.0 Information supplied by Dave Gordon, LAC, Inc., Hyde Park, 519-473-9333. Dianne Murphy, C.F.P. (519) 357-1362 Tax Planning Estate Planning RRSPs GICs Personal Financial Planning Frce Consultations Associated Financial P1d11UC1'S 1-800-390-7972 L 1 t e d 152 Josephine Street, Wingham Ontario FEBRUARY 1998 15 T K) 370 MAIN 1STREET, 235-0996 ONT. (John Norris Building) St. N., London, Ont. N6B 3N5 519-667-0897 FOR HOME AND OFFICE ALL OUR SYSTEMS INCLUDE 30 DAYS FREE INTERNET (Soma rWrkflons may apply) • Mini tower case Systems Inc. 106-30 COMPUTER Manager's Special TKO SYSTEM :1249■ Adelaide SOLUTIONS V12C 4 • 512 Kb cache ram • 166 MHZ MMX CPU • 16 Mb EDO ram • 1.44 Mb FDD • 2.0 Gb Ultra DMA hard drive • IMB video card • 14" digital SVGA colour monitor • Win 104 keyboard • Windows 95 w/disks & manual • mouse and pad • 24 speed CD -Rom • 16 bit sound card • 55 watt (PMPO) speakers • 33.6 upgradable fax/voice modem (Acer) TKO SYSTEMATIC • 200 mmx Cyrix processor TKO SYSTEM AT2A2 • Soyo TX motherboard with 512 KB • 233 mmx AMD K6 processor pipeline burst cache USB supported • Soyo tx motherboard with 512 kb • 32 Meg of Sdram pipeline burst cache USB supported • 24X quiet CD-rom (BTC) • 64 Meg of Sdram • 3.2 gig Fujitsu ultra DMA hard drive • 24X quiet CD-rom (BTC) • Acer 56K fax/voice/data modem • 43. gig ultra DMA hard drive • 15" AOC digital monitor • Acer 56K fax/voice/data modem • 2 MB ATI 3D Rage + 11 • 15" AOC digital monitor • BTC sound card w/ESS chipset • ATI 2 meg Rage II+ 3D accelerator • NEC speakers • Sound blaster AWE 64 sound card • 1.44 FDD • NEC speakers • Windows keyboard w/wrist rest • 1.44 FDD • Microphone • Keytronics, Windows keyboard • Logitech 3 button PS/2 mouse • Microphone • Logitech 3 button • mouse pad PS/2 mouse • Windows 95 w/Internet Explorer 4 • mouse pad • Microsoft homepack: Works and Money, • Windows 95 w/Internet Explorer 4 Encarta, Microsoft Golf, Magic School Bus 52095.55 $1695.55 WINTER HOURS: MON. - FRI. 9-6 • SAT. 10 - 4 OR BY APPOINTMENT FEBRUARY 1998 15