The Rural Voice, 1999-02, Page 40Eleanor Huffman Insurance
Agent for
Germania Farmers'
Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
• FARM • HOME • COMMERCIAL
409C Mary St., Ayton, Ont. NOG 1C0
Bus: 519-665-7710
Fax: 519.665.2118
Life, Accident, GICs and Segregated Funds
Agent for
Farm Mutual Financial Services
'"Chc
shop 7M,
General Farm Repairs
• Welding • Sandblasting
• Steel Sales • Air Filter Cleaning
• Quaker State & Petro Can Oils
• Filters • Batteries • Hardware
Hours: 8:30 - 5:30 - Sat. 9:00 - 4:00
Holstein
519-334-3947
Keith North Murray Calder
Would you buy insurance over the phone?
(an you imagine trusting your car, your home or your business to someone you've never even
met? Formosa Insurance does business the old fashioned way. It all started in 1880 when a
group of farmers from the area had to start their own insurance company because the big
companies wouldn't insure them. The idea was mutual. The company was called Formosa.
Today Formosa Insurance is still owned by its policyholders, it's still not for profit and it's still
in Formosa Ontario. When you're thinking about insurance you'd probably rather speak with
a real person you already know. That's your insurance broker. So if you like the idea of
insurance being about service and not about profit, ask your broker about Formosa Insurance,
your Mutual Choice. 1.800-265.3020
Formosa
INSURANC E
36 THE RURAL VOICE
Grain Markets
FEEDGRAINS
Western feedgrains are only being
used by Ontario feed processors on
an as -needed basis because of their
relatively high prices compared to
corn. Western feed wheat is selling
for about $175 per metric tonne while
wheat screenings are selling for $156.
Western feed barley is a non -issue
with a price tag of about $142. Even
Ontario barley is relatively expensive
at $125.
Having reached mid-January I
hope that producers have already
marketed at least a portion of their
1998 production. Soybean growers
have had some good opportunities to
sell soybeans at well over $8 per
bushel and you should have at least
half of the crop sold. On the other
hand, corn prices have not had many
bounces in prices although there was
some good strength in mid-November
that producers should have taken
advantage of. Since that time, futures
have dropped $0.20 while basis has
fallen $.05 for a total of $0.25 per
bushel which puts prices back to
harvest values.
1 expect futures markets to stay in
the doldrums for the next six weeks
and producers should try to avoid
selling grain during this period unless
there is a pop in either basis or
futures. The main message is to avoid
selling in the hole if at all possible
because at some time in the future,
we will see prices go back to import
values.
Producers need to keep a close eye
on forward contract prices especially
for new crop and set some target
prices. You will have a pretty good
idea what input costs will be this
spring and should be able to figure
out your break-even prices. Your
break-even prices should be the
lowest you will contract new crop
grain for, and at some time you
should be able to achieve these
prices.0
Information supplied by Dave Gordon,
LAC, Inc., Hyde Park, 519-473-9333.