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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-08-21, Page 23HURON TIMM FARM 1JPDATF Times -Advocate, August 21, 1991 Page 23 Grain futures show more promise than beans, farmers told By Adrian Harte HURON PARK - If there is any room for optimism in this season's agricultural markets, it would have to be in the grain market. That is what farmers who attended the out- door luncheon of Centralia Col- lege's annual Crops Update were told by two guest speakers. Charlie Broadwell, general man- ager of the Ontario Bean Producers' Marketing Board, said there is much room for optimism about the 1991 crop prices. He said that the marketing board's final price on the 1990 tri- partite crop was $22.70 a bag for white beans, and that the board has set the 1991 support level at $23.75. "We have watched closely what has happened across Canada with GRIP Gross Revenue Insurance Pian)," said Broadwell, who ex- plained that early optimism in- spired increased acreage in all kinds of beans, meaning it will be harder to get Ontario's production into Canada's food aid program. "I don't see much hope for white pea beans going into food aid this year," said Broadwell. He also noted that as of July 1, duty on beans crossing the U.S. border has been eliminated in both directions. "Beans can now move freely into the States and vice versa," said Broadwell, adding he expected beans to be bought and sold both ways. "I think have reached a point in our history when all the 'easy' busi- ness is gone," said Broadwell, not- ing that credit problems in Eastern CCAT improving bean strain for Maritimes HURON PARK - Farmers who attended Centralia College's annu- al Crops Update last Wednesday were able to get a glimpse of a new joint project between Ontario and Prince Edward Island. CCAT has received grant fund- ing to help improve the yellow eye bean strain which is currently grown in the Maritimes. - As re- searcher Bob Forrest describes it, the bean strain which was devel- oped in the 1940s has not been properly monitored for genetic quality over the years and is cur- rently in bad shape and suscepti- ble to disease. "Initially our job was to clean it up genetically," explained Forrest. Other funding is coming from the Ontario coloured bean growers association, who are interested in the college's experiments to cross it with the Ontario variety, which exhibits the flaws of late emer- gence and tends to flower over a long period of time. At least the Maritime variety is better in those respects. - "We're also looking for some- thing that will perform well in On- tario," said Forrest, but said the possibility exists that two separate varieties may be a better alterna- tive than one ideal strain. Of 300 selections of plants, three "likely winners" were cho- sen for greenhouse cultivation to get enough seed for the CCAT trials in PEI. The rest of the 300 are being evaluated as well. The genetic "cleaning up" has managed to eliminate some of the yellow eye bean's susceptibility to seed bore disease. Further im- provements will take time and Forrest describes the process as something like "putting toothpaste back in the tube". The yellow eye bean program is currently in its second of four years of funding. "I think the people in PEI will be happy with what we're doing," said Forrest. Currently, only about 2-3,000 acres of yellow eye beans are grown in Ontario annually, and most of those are shipped for Maritime consumption. A strong- er strain of bean may not only strengthen the Maritime agricultu- ral industry, but may also increase Ontario farmer's interest in a pop- ular maritime commodity. Super herbicides may be on their way, says CCAT researcher HURON PARK - While today's present herbicides may be good, there are better ones on their way...maybe. Peter Johnson, a researcher at Centralia College of Agricultural Technology, explains that there is "new potential" in herbicides for farmers. But while the college has been testing the efficiency of these new chemicals and their applica- tions, Johnson says that some of the best may never see the light of day if they do not clear laboratory tests for residue and toxicity. Nevertheless, Johnson remains optimistic. "I think there's some very excit- ing new things coming down the tubes," said Johnson. One of the star attractions in CCAT research tests has been a white bean dessicant under the trade name Ignite. Used in the last 10 days before harvest, it can ef- fectively dry up the bean plants, new growth, and most weeds. "Thus far in the trials it appears to be better than anything we have available," said Johnson, who pointed out that this year, talk of dessicants is timely. With the current bean crop about two weeks ahead of schedule, many farmers will be considering a pre -harvest treatment to get around the weed growth and re -growth spurred by the wet weather. Johnson has also been investigat- ing new white bean herbicides, and has discovered that a mixture of Pur$uit (not currently approved for use on white beans) and Basagran Forte does very well. "An interesting thing that came out this year...is Pursuit applied to white beans is fairly active and can affect the white bean plant and stop its growth for two weeks," ex- plained Johnson, but noted that by mixing it with the Forte, that ten- dency was virtually eliminated. Pursuit and Basagran are market- ed by different companies, but it may prove to be to their advantage I to market the mixture together for white bean producers. Johnson said the mixture may be approved as early as next year. Merit is another product that has proven to have potential for white bean growers. It eliminates most weeds, except Pigweed, but John- son noted there is still no sign of approval for this chemical. Another which has done well in CCAT tests, but is finding it a long road to approval, is a chemical known as DPX-79406. It takes an- nuals out of corn and may be an e ff ective replacement for Atra- zine. "If we do get this tool, it will be a major step forward," said Johnson. The CCAT research also focuses on the John- son says they discover interesting things like the fact that Pursuit must be applied within 14 days of planting, otherwise it has little ef- fect on certain weeds. All college research information goes back to the manufacturers of the chemicals, and to the Expert Committee on Weeds, who publish their annual Guide to Weed Con- trol. Johnson pointed out that most people assume that such research is government funded, but is actually largely supported by growers asso- ciations. While crop research ap- pearscostly, Johnson says it goes a of ng way to improving farm pro ductivity. Bloc countries will hurt their ability to buy Ontario beans. Algeria for example, said Broad- well, is eager to -buy a lot of bean, but have trouble establishing credit. Cuba wants up to 100,000 metric tonnes annually (equal to Ontario's entire production), but has limited credit and fluctuating priorities. "It certainly won't be any worse than last year" Bulgaria, said Broadwell, could become a major customer, but the Bean Board has found it prudent to wait until after that countries next elections. Broadwell said that Ontario has 147,000 acres in production this year and can expect an average of 14 bags an acre. But competing American states can be expected to do as well once the drought ends. "It certainly won't be any worse than last year and hopefully it will be better," said Broadwell. Doug Holiday, a former St. Mar- ys area farmer and now represent- ing Richardson Greenshields, pre- sented a little more optimistic por- trayal of the futures market. He said that the "big picture" shows that the overall supply and demand balance is shrinking. He pointed out that while the world corn harvest is expected to once again generate a surplus of some 75 million tonnes, demand is on the in- crease. The surplus margin will likely drop from 14.1 percent of the crop to about 12 percent. "It's hard to be really optimistic about the short term situation, but it sets up an opportunity for next year," said Holiday, who pointed out that his company is now buying December '92 corn futures at $2.50 a bushel, meaning eventual crop prices are expected to at least equal that price. Holiday noted that the Soviet com crop is shrinking and may open up for western exports if cred- it becomes available. However, Holiday made these comments be- fore Sunday's coup of President Mikhael Gorbachev. In wheat futures, Holiday said the overall world supply is down by seven percent and he expects prices to go back up, especially since they appear to have hit rock bottom. Soybean futures, however, do not appea to be in as good a position and were "probably the least opti- tpistic at this point". Holiday said the U.S, crop of 300 billion bushels was still higher than demand, especially since recent rains saved the crop. "There's not too much room for optimism," said Holiday, noting soybeans have traded within the "narrow" range of $5.40-6.50 for the past two years and are not like- ly to exceed the upper pan of that range. Consequently, said Holiday, he had more hope for grain prices than beans since the rains came too late to save the grains in the drought ridden areas. In livestock markets, Holiday said cattle demand will continue to shrink. Prices are currently as low as 630, but should recover after La- bour Day, he said. "We're definitely on the expan- sion trend right now," he said, re- ferring to the fact that farmers are now preparing to keep larger herds. Hogs, he said, are stable, trading at the middle of their price range after the record highs of early 1990. .1 FIBERGLAS CANADA SNC FIBERGLAS PINK' Insulation pads your ceilings, walls and floors with comfort and your wallet with savings. • Easy to install and work with • Superior bounce -back resiliency for lasting comfort and savings • Sound -proofs and is non-combustible • Lightweight package • An R -value for every job Pankis Tough. ill e hardware building centre Centralia Farmers Supply ltd: Centrath 2213-6b3ts 1 THE WORI(S OFFER EXPIRES SEPT. 27, '91 PA R T SoC E NTE R • OFFER EXPIRES SEPT. 27, '91 L. 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