Feed weekly outlook: Grains wait for demand to pick up

MarketsFarm — As feed barley continued to sit in a lull, there have been some increases in feed wheat, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta.

“There’s a little of downward pressure on barley,” Motz said, noting demand for it is expected to soon pick up.

Feed wheat prices have increased recently, he said, with CorNine going from $10.60 per bushel to $11 for April-May pickup on the farm in central Alberta.

“The market has been sideways for so long that a little bit of demand is causing buyers to have to pay up a little,” Motz said.

Corn continued to be imported from the U.S., but volumes have started to decline, he added.

“We are almost running out of time because once you get to mid-summer, you’re going to transition out of corn and get the elevators set up for the fall run.”

While shortages of trucks and drivers continued to be a problem, Motz said with less corn coming in, the issues have not been as severe.

Over the last week, prices across Western Canada for feed barley have been steady to lower, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire as of Wednesday. There’s been a 10-cent drop in Saskatchewan, bringing that province’s prices to $7.75-$7.80/bu.

Meanwhile there’s been no change in Alberta or Manitoba, with the former at $7.60-$9.14/bu. and the latter at $7.15-$7.25.

Prairie Ag Hotwire reported feed wheat has been steady to lower as well. Saskatchewan and Manitoba prices lost 25 cents, with Saskatchewan at $8.50-$10.50/bu. and Manitoba at $10.28. Meanwhile, Alberta held at $9.40-$11.76/bu.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.