The drought is getting real

[helmsdale]

There is a considerable stretch of my part of the world that if rain came SOON could still do quite well... If this weather pattern holds for more than a couple days it is going to start burning bushels though. Market would seem to be taking a breather.

The thing that strikes me about the current market situation is the strength of the near term contract. Would seem to indicate to me that there was/is considerable open capacity to increase current inventory for future use. I could be wrong, but it would seem that a lot of high priced traders and the buyers they work for thought low prices were here to stay so why run excess inventory, especially if there was thought to be a "burdensome" supply situation, with consistent downward pressure.

For those that didn't take advantage of the low prices to stock their silos I really have no sympathy.

[Guest]

There is a considerable stretch of my part of the world that if rain came SOON could still do quite well... If this weather pattern holds for more than a couple days it is going to start burning bushels though. Market would seem to be taking a breather.

The thing that strikes me about the current market situation is the strength of the near term contract. Would seem to indicate to me that there was/is considerable open capacity to increase current inventory for future use. I could be wrong, but it would seem that a lot of high priced traders and the buyers they work for thought low prices were here to stay so why run excess inventory, especially if there was thought to be a "burdensome" supply situation, with consistent downward pressure.

For those that didn't take advantage of the low prices to stock their silos I really have no sympathy.

"LIKE"

[furrowtickler]

25% of Any potential yield has been burnt off the top already . Not just my local area. My guess is about 40% of western Canada .
Some area will be more , some less .
It will be much high than that in 2 weeks for any areas dry already who may not get rain in the next 3 days .

[Rareearth]

Too early yet to call the crop size.

Which crops are better, the early seeded or late seeded, also too early to call. But I will, early crops best, depends when and how much the next rain event is.

[bucket]

Mower conditioners starting fires regularly. That's a bad sign.

[Hopalong]

Going on for twenty seven years since last multi year prairie drought.
We may be better equipped with farming practices and technology to withstand drought but nothing to say next drought will not be longer and more severe.
Who would have thought wet years would have lasted as long as they did?
Have not given up on be prepared policy.

[sumdumguy]

What can we do to prepare for a repeat of the 80's. Every soil type is different, but for sure, leaving a tall strip of straw to catch snow. No fall tillage in gumbo, in fact no black dirt at all to blow. What can you add?

[Ache4Acres]

What can we do to prepare for a repeat of the 80's. Every soil type is different, but for sure, leaving a tall strip of straw to catch snow. No fall tillage in gumbo, in fact no black dirt at all to blow. What can you add?

Hhmmm..the 80s...stock up on pesticide !!

[biglentil]

Hhmmm..the 80s...stock up on pesticide !!

In 88 there was half the average rainfall i think we are on track for about a quarter of normal rainfal. Arguably shaping up to be the driest year on record in our area. Maybe that will all change tomorrow but no hail please.

[sumdumguy]

We returned from our road trip to Great Falls Montana. Its very evident that the Bow and Milk River sustain life in the sandy desert, but basically irrigating hay. Lentil fields start at Culbertson. We didn't see any Canola until we crossed the border into Sask. nor did we see a stellar stand anywhere but did see many fields that were capoot. It was 40 degrees on the way back in Montana. Every irrigation pivot was pumping. A lot of the winter wheet has been combined and the spring cereals are pathetic. One large elevator had a tarped pile of wheat on the ground tarped. Lentil except for one big field were about four inches high, kinda ble fuzzy with about 4 viable single pods.

The highlight of the trip was a stop in Havre were the Versatile dealer must have loved Big Buds, Steigers, Wagners and an assortment of old and new seeders, ever see a 'Pillar? The best stand of lentils ( just outside of Glasgow) that we saw was seeded into pure gravel by a JD 1850 disc drill with 8 inch spacing and a special-made notched steel closing wheel.

It is much cooler on this side of the border.

Next weekend we are Kindersley/Rosetown bound.