Simple Question! On your farm how easy is it to switch crops!

[SASKFARMER3]

The next thing the markets will focus on is US farmers switching Crops.
HA, how quick can most Canadian farmers switch.
Say for example sake, it poured for the whole month of May from Calgary to Winnipeg.
We all have our seeding plans and seed cleaned and seed bought.
Could you switch and seed all OATS BARLEY CANOLA OR FLAX>
Now remember this example is for a month or more of rain.
My answer is yes some but very little, and we have a cleaning plant.
USA farmers purchase their seed. I dont think their will be a huge switch their.
Just woundering.

[poorboy]

If you live in an area where it is more common to switch between different crops, based on the weather, you are more likely to be able to adapt.

I have heard that in a normal year a lot of the corn areas only seed until a certain date and then seed beans. If that is so, the whole infrastructure is probably set up to handle rapid changes in seed useage. Much more so than in western Canada.

[furrowtickler]

There is not enough seed available to make big swings in the U.S., 10-20%swings at best.

[charliep]

The USDA seeding intentions report should still catch the early to mid June acreage shifts so some of the questions will be answered.

In terms of impact, a 1 mln acre (about 1% shift) reduction in corn acres equals about 150 mln bu or 3.75 mln tonnes. That is about 1/3 of Canada's total barley crop.

The 5 bu yield decrease equals close to 450 mln bu decrease in production or 11 mln tonnes - equal to the size of Canada's barley crop.

[charliep]

Actually should be USDA seeded acreage released June 30. Just highlighting relatively some changes in the US have a big impact on world (particularly this year).

[Hopperbin]

Hey Sask. your always checking fertilizer prices. Any chance we can import some cheap fertilizer from the states at the moment for next year?
Back to topic I did switch 20 percent of my wheat to canola last year because of late planting and 10 dollar canola at the time wheat was was only 4. In my 10 years as manager that was a first for a crop switch. Going to canola was easy because the seed was availlable sulpur was cheap at the time compared to now and the field was hog manured. Turned out the canola on canola was not a great crop. Stayed greener, didn't ripen even, I binned it at 13.5. It heated.
Plus side I delivered it at the time of higher price and got paid 22,000 per super B load.

[SASKFARMER3]

Ill check prices but our farm is looking more at the FNA stuff. Found it funny the last time I was in Europe most farms had a telehandler, yes for hay but they were using them to load bags of fert into their air drill etc.
Were figuring why not, Our new shed is almost built that will hold 500 to 1000 tons in mini bulk bags. But I will work on it.
How does the Canola look we have rows but god is it slow growing. Got close to 40 mm last night.