Help!!! Where are we at production/quality wise???

[charliep]

We tend to talk about the front line (grain/livestock producers) in terms of hurt but I don't think we should underestimate the damage to agri-business/processors/grain handling system. Some this damage will be long term with some not surviving.

Some of the domestic industry (maltsters and canola crushers) have big companies behind them but there are limits to how much they are prepared to lose. The point about the malting industry is very well taken. Between poor price signals (malt barley initial payments ($/bu) need to have a 4 in front of them) and high protein (many of the brewers in export markets cannot handle high protein malt - period), they are in mega trouble.

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

On a conference call yesterday, some parts of Sask are really taking a hit.

After dryness, 5-7 inches of rain in the past week; boating weather as it was pointed out. The saddest part is that the warm wet weather is sprouting the grain badly...

I guess we get the whole meal deal, when will it snow a foot...?

[charliep]

Just got off the phone with a farmer from the Peace River region and significant damage on west side there. Lots of reports out of northern SK.

Maybe there is truth to the expression "Nothing is so bad it can't get worse".

[charliep]

should be frost damage above.

[rosco]

I was talking wheat varieties with an Agro salesman and i mentioned that I was going to clean everything that i harvested and sell it to the guys that had no seed for next year. He looked me in the eye and told me that my variety was PBR protected. A. yes he is right and B. last time i will darken his door. I think this is a year when the PBR police can go do something useful with their time. Where would someone get certified seed for their whole farm?

[rosco]

By the way, hope my wheat makes 15!

[cowman]

Some of the wheat crops around Red Deer are really pretty decent. Most of the barley is fair. The poorer crops have been taken off for greenfeed. There was a farmer swathing barley just east of Red Deer yesterday and it looks like a pretty good crop. Straw is very short.
We have had close to 3 inches of rain and snow since Aug. 1st for a total of just over 6 inches since May 1st. Never had any between June 20 and Aug 1st.
I doubt if any malt will come out our area as the feed market is just too good. The brewers are going to have to get out the checkbook if they want to access any malt. Last year good heavy malt barley moved into the feedlots because they basically outbid the maltsters.

[TOM4CWB]

Rosco,

If you are interested, check and see if the owners of your variety would allow you to sell it if you collected and submitted the levy that is normally applied to certified seed of that variety. Likely checking with the seed people you usually buy your certified seed from would be the easiest way to find out.

This will be a hard year on the seed industry, as much of the wholesale seed is grown in the northern parkland of the prairies, which was hardest hit by the drought.

I agree the PBR issue is a very sticky one, have brought it up with plant breeders/Ag specialists, not much comment, as everyone knows what is going to happen... it will be a big mess if we don't develop a reasonable solution to this problem.

One solution would be for a small levy to be charged on all planting seed, no matter what the variety, and then the income to return by variety, to seed co's and plant breeders.

Then they would be paid by everyone as variety improvement is to the benefit of all of us.

The seed cleaners would then be responsible to submit the levys, which would mean that the cleaners would have to be licensed and regulated.

Is this a reasonable idea?

[rosco]

I suppose that it is a plausible solution to put more money in the seed growers pockets, if that is what you are after. I realize that they have to be compensated for their investment, but my neighbors who have nothing aren't going to pay me an extra surcharge for PBR if they can by brown bag for less from someone else who doesn't care about PBR. I'm not that much of a friend to the seed growers. My seed is common this year and will be 2 years away next year. Would you pay PBR on seed 2 years past certified? You obviously don't sit on a seed plant board either. Do you want the hassel of collecting & distributing levies? Most seed plants want to know as little as possible about the grain they are cleaning, with the exception of RR canola. They don't want to be the PBR police either. The seed growers will sell everthing that they have this year. I don't think that they need my help to make more money. Or what do you think?

[TOM4CWB]

Rosco,

Seed growers in the parkland drought area will not likely have supplies sufficient to meet the needs of planting for next spring. They don't make any more because of PBR, infact the margins have been getting tighter every year.

The seed companies and plant breeders are making some more money, however this system is bound to make lawyers rich, and farmers angry.

Just so you are aware, the person you sell seed of a PBR variety to is not the one that gets sued, you are.

Anyway, this situation is not going away any time soon... I guess we will have to grin and bare it...