Loading...
The Rural Voice, 1994-12, Page 16CIRCULAR MANURE TANKS • Concrete Foundations • Circular Tanks • Bunker Silo' • Crane Rental • Excavation • Insulated Concrete Wall Hog Bam Construction GREY -BRUCE CONSTRUCTION LIMITED R. R. 5, MILDMAY, ONTARIO Phone (519) 367-2372 Fax (519) 367-2172 LARRY HOFFARTH JIM POECHMAN (519) 364-4523 (519) 367-2910 GB f we*. .. • -ii �r• There's Nothing In The World Like Christmas In The Country In the spirit of the season, we extend Season's Greetings to you and your families and wish you a safe and happy holiday season and a prosperous 1995. Royal Bank Agricultural Centres GREY/BRUCE •, •1 .4 ,`► . 12 THE RURAL VOICE Canada's leader in agricultural banking. • ROYAL BANK • • It ti •r t1 C. t., •''1- _l•.�.• Grain Markets Prices remain surprisingly strong By the time you read this, harvest will be complete in Ontario and most of the fall work will be done. The weath- er has been nothing short of sensational with warm temperatures and little rain, so now it's time to reflect. Markets have held amazingly well considering that record corn and soybean crops have been harvested in the U.S. As well, Ontario has produced a corn crop that is larger than anyone expected and a record soybean crop. So, why are prices holding up so well? It comes back to one factor — lack of producer selling. The U.S. farmer has refused to sell at these very poor U.S. basis levels and the result has been steady futures prices. Ontario producers have been light sellers of corn and the result has been strong basis levels and a need to import to meet spot demand. CORN The last USDA report pushed esti- mated production to 10 billion bushels for the first time in history. Instead of dropping like a stone, futures prices gained for two days after the report as the production figure was already factored into the market and there has been very little hedge pressure. In Ontario, com yields have surprised many industry people. Elevators that didn't expect to fill with com are more than full and many farm driers have had to ship in order to make space. However, producer selling has been light and this may not bode well for basis levels during the winter. When a market strengthens from export levels to import levels at harvest, much of the demand for corn gets looked after early with imported corn. If many producers decide to sell corn between mid-November and mid-December, the market will be hard pressed to absorb the supply. The result could be weaker basis levels during the winter months.