Are there any commodity Bears out there

[chaffmeister]

Prices in Montana have softened a bit because they're getting the acres they needed. From highs of 17.00/cwt I'm now hearing 14.00/cwt.

I heard A-B is out with a price around 6.80 - 7.00/bu in Alberta. Works back to FOB Vancouver at about 8.00/bu to 8.20/bu. Compare that to the EU prices at about 10.00/bu. I'm sure A-B paid the CWB much more than 8.20 basis Vancouver.

So 7.00 is a great price. but wouldn't 8.00 be better?

[hoppsing]

The back quarter last year (in S.E. Sask) was a beautiful Metcalfe crop in June but got zapped by the heat in July. It would be nice if we could put away the philosophical blinders in these discussions. Actually, I'm just online looking for a truck.

[hoppsing]

hoppsing
man where are you hearing these rumors? must be from with in the CWB, as once again they are keeping the price down!
Need to up date your sources Hoppsing, it might be BARI there, yet hear its A Bucsh here, and its $7 at the bin!! go figure eh!!!
When you blackmail some one or some industry sooner or later some one has to crack. Its called business, if a maltster has cracked so be it. They need barley, nothing but barley. Their customers need malt, and if they can't get it from a maltster here then they will go elsewhere, possibly never coming back to this maltster again. Its called wanting security of supply.
Hoppsing - how would you like to have a central marketing agency hold a shot gun to your business, and tell you if you don't do business with me - your done. Perhaps you should watch the God Father again, if you haven't.
This is what has happened, every one but the CWB said CashPlus is dead, yet if I had a choice of keeping my business alive or seeing it possibly close, firing employee's, seeing my community lose a substantial tax revenue base. Seeing value added dry up and never be renewed, well I'd cave and accept what I could as well. Call me week I guess ! or call it survival.
The CWB killed three new malt builds in western Canada already, that is fact. If they have broke the maltsers in to accepting CashPlus what is the win for us? what is the win for the maltster? what encouragement do they have to continue to grow and build here?
I say none at all.
Erik

[chaffmeister]

Canada Malt has said they are building elsewhere and didn't even consider Canada because of the CWB.

I will share there is at least one other that has asked about Canada as a potential location - a new player not currently here. Their biggest concern, impediment, road block = CWB. If we don't get this worked out now, they will build - but not here.

Sorry, Erik, but that makes 4 malt plants that we'll never see and maybe 5.

I'll stick my neck out and say that if the CWB was gone out of barley, never to return, there would be even more.

Do you think Richard Gray ever thought about that when he said that the malt premium would disappear here and in the US if the CWB was gone?

[agstar77]

If the CWB wasn't here more malting plants would be built so they could pay more than they do now? I see they are in business to make less, very interesting.

[gregpet]

Agstar77, I do not believe the malty's would pay more or less than the prevailing higher open market price that is enjoyed in other countries versus the CWB 'lower pooled' price we recieve now.

I believe having more options to sell our malt barley would be very beneficial. Is there something wrong with having more choices to sell my malt? Could you please enlighten me Agstar77.

[agstar77]

Nothing wrong with choice. However I find it interesting that the milling industry has flourished in Canada as compared to the U.S. under the CWB system but the maltsters can't.

[mcfarms]

Thats because they can always mill a lower quality wheat ( and often do) Maltsters are not guaranteed a supply even under this system just a price. which may not be competitive even with feed come fall.

[charliep]

Agstar

Any thoughts on how many domestic flour mills are paying the current $20/bu? Maybe they covered their needs at lower prices and have access to guaranteed supplies - a service the CWB offers them. How many flour mills pay premiums/trucking allowances etc the way maltsters do to obtain farmer deliveries? How many domestic flour mills have to compete with the domestic feed market where they can't provide market signals? The domestic flour milling industry is well looked after by the CWB. The situation of the domestic maltster is substantially different.

[freewheat]

What is the joke, cp? Did I miss something?

[hoppsing]

Erik, that's good stuff you're smoking. Three plants? Why not 6,7, 8 ?? I am sure if the bloody CWB would just go away, there would be new flour mills and malt plants in every municipality. The advantage should be Saskatchewan but suppose Alberta would buy the industry as they did the feeding 25 years ago. PS - those press releases are still out to lunch.

[parsley]

Oats plants sprouted on the Prairies once the Board was plowed under.

hmmmmm