Feed weekly outlook: Prices slip slightly

MarketsFarm — There has been scant movement in feed grain prices over the last week, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, who noted demand has backed off a little.

Buyers have stepped away following rains throughout much of the province, including the drought-stricken south. In turn, she said, prices “softened slightly.”

“We’re still looking at $9 barley [per bushel] in most parts of Alberta,” Leclerc said, pointing to the declines in commodity prices.

“Are we going to see the slip come or are we just waiting in a hold pattern?” she questioned, with the start of the winter crop harvest only a few weeks away.

Leclerc said Market Master was offering $9.25/bu. picked up for barley and $15-$15.50 for wheat, although they have gone as low as $14.50.

“The spread on new-crop to old-crop barley is very minimal. That’s also hindering the aggression in the market,” she said.

Prairie Ag Hotwire found similar circumstances, with old-crop feed barley cited as $9.05/bu. delivered in Manitoba, $8.50-$9 in Saskatchewan, with Alberta at $8.33-$10.33. New-crop delivered stood at $8.40-$9.25 in Saskatchewan and $8.22-$9.25 in Alberta, with no pricing for Manitoba.

Old-crop feed wheat fetched $13.19/bu. picked up in Manitoba, compared to $10.50-$14.75/bu. in Saskatchewan and $12-$16.47 in Alberta. New-crop garnered $11-$14.50 in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with no price for Manitoba.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.