Fertilizer pricing

[TOM4CWB]

Cowman;

Our crop yeilds were close to average, but the straw business is about 50% of normal...

On our farm We are very blessed to have healthy families, warm homes, and are looking towards spring seeding with anticipation of another productive enjoyable year in 2004!

Every year our vision is renewed of a great dream;

We are blessed with free speach... at a cost for our forefathers... that we must defend;

We are blessed with a not perfect, but very honest caring government here in Alberta that respects our personal liberties as farmers...

We are blessed by the great Creator of this earth... with bountyful resourses here in Alberta... that gives my farm and family opportunities few others on the face of this planet could even dream of!

What a wonderful time in history to be alive!

[dnach]

wana share the wealth, happines, and enthuziasim, Tom? I could sure use some help paying my fertilizer bills after 3 years of drought. I am glad that some farmers are doin ok, just gettin to the end of our rope around here, then to see fert prices shootin higher again, makes it hard to be optimistic at all.

[ALLFARMER]

I used to sell NH MF CNH parts and markup was 40% to the dealer level. I know of four farmers trying to pay off the inputs from last yr. If we didn't have crop insurance we would be another. Farming seems very unstable build slowly & cautiously.

[TOM4CWB]

dnach;

We all have a dream, the challenge is to keep these God given dreams alive...

I meant to say these things with a thankful heart… not in arrogance… and I know to those who much is given… much is expected, for the need in our communities is great!

The Fear of GOD is the beginning of all Wisdom… Pride and an arrogant heart is the worst sin…

dnach, if drought for 3 years, then not much fert. is needed for next crop obviously, as a good reserve of fertility is waiting to make your next crop a great one!

ALLFARMER I am thankful for Crop Insurance too... risk management is the key to level out the lows... sometimes it takes the highs off too... but if a person can pay the bills... this is what we are looking for!

I see Machinery Dealers have taken a big hit with the increasing value of the C$ vs. US$... a real 20% decrease in the value of used equipment inventories… even parts inventories!

Our Challenge is to use fertility reserves more efficiently… save money by using the non-organic Phosphate in our soil… build nitrogen through rotations with N fixing crops… spreading livestock manure/composts… and/or grow IP crops like specialty Canola that has a good profit in the price locked in!

[dnach]

Tom, thanks for the reply. Last year our fert. reserves were fairly high so we were able to cut back substantialy, most feilds only got 100lbs 37-14 with the seed. But for some reason this year our fert levels are way down, i guess we only can get away with it for one year.

[cowman]

TOM: I guess new parts therefore should be 20% cheaper? Even with the dealers 40% markup? I doubt it will happen?
Here is the problem of a monopoly. You want John Deere parts you pay their price...40% over cost. I don't see a lot of competition between John Deere dealers? Mostly company stores now...and that goes for CIH too.
When the day comes that one fertilizer company controls the market you will pay that 40% markup or you won't buy fertilizer. It is as simple as that.