Off to Panorama Skiing

[SASKFARMER3]

Grain prices keep dropping so taking kids out of school and heading west to ski one last time before spring with family. Another week and lower we go so maybe family is way more important than feeding people who don't care. One thing on the the drive is that snow is going fast from regina to calgary. Virtually done at medicienhat. Even the mt has less snow at this time of year.

[SASKFARMER3]

Good slops yesterday, ha and Canola acreage is getting larger. Yea I think mother nature will cure that little acreage problem. Yes we haven't had a failure yet in Late march or early April but hell their is no snow cover. Watch US winter wheat and how its advancing, a April 18 frost could hit it hard very hard this year. Also the weather is on track for similar spring as last year. HA how was that on most farms. Not fun. Dollar moving higher this morning again.

[wd9]

Actually Canola has gone up the last few days. Guess the whining doesn't even stop on the ski hill.

[grrrr]

Or the spelling mistakes!

[JDGreen]

Yea had to go skiing with only wife and kids as all our tits up farmer now living in the city friends with high paying jobs couldn't afford to go. Guess it isn't all bad SF3 eh? By the way panarama has to be my fav ski resort after last week. Stayed in the condo closest to the bunny hill and pools .. Great times and going back next year for sure.

[SASKFARMER3]

Hey JD it is a wonderful place, texting on ski hill yesterday so spell check not available. Were in 2 bed condo timeshare. Its at Toby chair. Kids having a blast even this old guys legs are holding out. Its really warm. Point on Canola to the rest of you were range bound at 8 to 9 because of acreage. Were seeding to much in Western Canada and the market is telling us this.

[charliep]

Interesting enough was on market outlook conference call yesterday and the analyst forecast a canola acreage between 16.5 and 17.5 mln acres. On the disappearance side, they see markets for 100 % of it. New crush capacity in western Canada. Continued strong global demand for vegetable oil based on continued growth human consumption as the world econonomies improve and biodiesel. Limitations are crop rotation/disease issues and top soil moisture.

Assuming an okay crop yield wise, can you make money growing $8 to $9/bu canola (should be achievable with patience next) and what is likely to be 100 % deliverly (your choice to store or sell)? Where does canola sit in crop budgets - likely the most profitable or very close to the top.

Looking forward to my trip to Kimberley in May but not seeing snow. Green grass and straight fairways.

[furrowtickler]

Average $8.5/bus canola on average yeilds with a lower COP and it will blow away everything but lentils. All cereal acres, at best will break even, unfortunatly needed for rotation. Peas and canary look bleak as well.

[charliep]

For Alberta farmers, have a look at spring price endorsement on canola. Coverage price for canola is $400/tonne or $9.07/bu. If you have worries that canola will be below $8.15/bu next fall (SPE 10 % trigger price realizing prices below this level provide the $9.07), then strongly consider using the program or at least run the math/do a risk assessment.

[DogPatch]

I guess what they say about grain farmers having 6 months holidays every year is correct then?

[wd9]

No DogPatch, its 8.

[gregpet]

Charlie, if the fairway breaks to the left for me I do much better than on straight ones ;-)

[charliep]

I should explain I hit straight all the time. Straight into the brush/woods. Straight into the water. Straight into the sand.

[SASKFARMER3]

But Charlie in the Real world Saskatchewan We have no guarantee price option like Alberta. Sorry its all or nothing. Just saying all this BS about this huge crop and how come. Ill say it again how come we made way more money in the late 70s with canola the old way than we do now. Yes the 50 plus yield is nice but add in your seed and chem and fert costs and guess what its not like it use to be. Melfort tisdale the land of milk and honey ask any one who farms up their if they make more now or back then. Work hard when home play hard when gone. Party like your Irish.

[furrowtickler]

Back in the 70's 90% of the canola was grown on smf.