Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm—The drying out of the southern half of the Prairies over the past week has caused feed grain prices to move erratically, according to a grain manager.
Glen Loyns, trader and general manager for JGL Commodities in Moose Jaw, Sask., said while the recent heat and dryness has reduced yield expectations, prospects of a decent harvest are still putting pressure on prices.
“It appears that there’s probably going to be an average crop. So that’s putting pressure on some prices. Especially in the United States where you’re seeing pretty favourable growing conditions for both corn and beans,” Loyns said.
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However, the warmer and drier-than-normal conditions are now starting to have a real effect on crops.
“The heat is affecting it and it’s running out of moisture. It’s going to be not as good as everyone was expecting a month ago,” Loyns added.
Despite lower corn and wheat prices in the U.S., there isn’t much in the way of grain shipments into Saskatchewan according to Loyns. He added that the feed grain market will wait and see before prices make their move.
“It’s going to be volatile until we get a very good picture of the quality and quantity (of feed grains),” Loyns said.
Delivered feed barley prices in Saskatchewan ranged from C$4.30 to C$4.75 per bushel as of July 31, with the latter steady from last week, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. In Alberta, prices ranged from C$4.15 to C$5.88/bu., down 11 cents from the week before. In Manitoba, prices were C$4.50 to C$4.51/bu., down one cent from the previous week.
For delivered feed wheat, the price range in Saskatchewan was C$6.60 to C$7.75/bu., while in Alberta, prices were from C$6.49 to C$8.16/bu. The maximum prices from both provinces were unchanged from the previous week. In Manitoba, feed wheat was at C$6.79/bu., up two cents.
