EU grain marketing info

[ianben]

Perhaps some of you may find this new information helpful.
Regards Ian

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The European Commission has launched an initiative to improve access to information on the European Union's grain market policy and activities.

Following a short trial period, the Commission decided to make public via its "Europa" web site the results of the management committee for cereals as well as other relevant information. The new Internet-based system will replace the dissemination of the information by fax.

The web address is http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/markets/crops/index_en.htm.

The Commission said the following information would be found on the site, in the folder "LIBRARY":

• Periodical instruments (APA): Regulations fixing/modifying the import duties for cereals and export restitutions. Upload is twice a month for the fixing of import duties and whenever there is a non-scheduled change in the duties; monthly for export restitutions.
• Licenses: Export and import licenses per cereal since the beginning of the marketing year, comparison with the same period of the last two marketing years. Upload is done weekly on Thursdays at 19:00, Brussels time.
• Import Quotas: Import of cereals under the tariff quota on a weekly basis since the opening of the quota. Upload of the summary page is done weekly on Thursdays at 19:00, Brussels time.
• Licenses to any Central or Eastern European destination: Licenses on a monthly basis since the beginning of the marketing year. Upload is done weekly on Thursdays at 19:00, Brussels time.
• Requests for import and export licenses: Licenses requested since the beginning of the marketing year by Member State. Upload is done weekly on Thursdays at 19:00, Brussels time.
• Results of the Cereals Management Committee: Quantities sold this week under tenders, refunds. Upload of the summary page is done weekly on Thursdays at 19:00, Brussels time.
• Resale of intervention stocks on the E.U. market: Open tenders, quantities sold so far and quantities still to be sold.
• Intervention stocks: Intervention situation by Member State and by cereal. Upload is done weekly on Thursdays at 19:00, Brussels time.
• Regulations: New regulations relevant for the cereals sector (opening of tenders, modifications to Intervention rules, aid regimes…). Upload is done whenever necessary.

[pandiana]

As if we didn't have enough to worry about, cowman, you had to say the 'M' word.

We are, west central AB, in a normally heavy moisture area. We had a moderate to low snowfall this year todate. We also had the winds that blew loose snow into drifts and ditches. A large percentage of this snow has melted and pooling in lowlands. The next month will tell the tale.

[kato]

Southwest Manitoba.. snow was really good this year. Good enough to drive the deer into the yard!

We got no moisture last year from the end of June until freeze up, so we needed a good snow year quite badly.

A nice slow melt would be nice. I guess we'll see.

[grassfarmer]

We have had good constant snowcover since 29th October - but a lot less than last winter. We had 13" before New Year and 12" since. Last year we had 53" between late October and end of March. Hopefully with a slower melt it will get deeper into the soil this year. It needs to as we were bone dry last fall.

[grassmarketeer]

Out here in East Central Alberta it is very dry. Powerful winds took most of the snow off the fields. Very little left now and it doesn't look like the good old creek has a chance to even trickle.

[les]

About 90 miles east of Red Deer... The fields are mostly bare now.Not looking really good for much spring moisture.

[TOM4CWB]

Ianben;

How have things been?

Our winter wheat produced just fine, nice milling quality, but unfortunately the CWB gave it away on us, that is the product we saved on the Special Select IP Variety specific CWB program.

I understand the CWB got just enough for one boat load... (25,000t?) and sent it to Indonesia... to compete with US Hard Red Winter.

Maximum freight, to a low value market... instead of into the US market which is at a premium to Canadian Wheat (Winter Wheat has no Tarrif).

This info is from a local Canadian Marketer, who tracks prices and alerts us;

. North Dakota Wheat Commission Administrator Neal Fisher is met with representatives of China's government grain buying agency in Portland, Ore., to provide assurance that farmers in North Dakota and the surrounding region can supply China with ample quantities of hard red spring wheat. USW recently learned from trade servicing visits with flourmills in China’s southern Guangdong province that DNS wheat with 14.5 percent protein is commanding a premium of $0.65 per bushel over competitive Canadian western red spring wheat in local markets.

. Incompetence: If the CWB wants to self-destruct they are well on the path. If they are maximizing returns to western Canadian wheat farmers, how is the US commanding a premium of CAD 87 cents over CWRS? This example can be exploited two ways.

A) To show the CWB’s inability to extract a premium and

B) the next time the USTR whines that we undercut their prices, we can pull out this news release. It is ironic the same day that the CWB issues a new PRO for 2004-2005 that the Minneapolis Wheat futures jump 14-21 cents on tight supplies and they may have jumped further had the CWB not issued bearish news WHILE the market was open. No concern for the market – no concern for farmers. They never cease to amaze me.


Yesterday at Northgate, North Dakota DNS wheat 13.5 protein was $5.40 cents delivered. The CWB’s last PRO shows a return to a farmer in mid-point Saskatchewan of $4.19 cents a bushel. The spread between MGE March and MGE December is $12.78 a tonne so the CWB may be justified dropping next year’s PRO’s $3.00-$14.00 a tonne but what are they doing with $44.00 a tonne difference this year. Other cash bids for wheat dropped in the pit in North Dakota yesterday ranged from $5.00 to $5.50. NO wonder the millers in the United States love the CWB – no one will sell cheaper than they will.

How much better off would the farming economy be if we were getting an extra dollar a bushel for our wheat?

How long do farmers have to pay for the CWB selling too much of the 2003-2003 crop in July 2003 before the last run up? Ok, enough rant for one day.

These comments were on Feb 24/04.

SSOOOO Ianben;

We are moving on the CWB issue... your opinion, which way?

[bombay_43]

We have been told that our fields here in NE Alberta, have the most snow of anywhere! We are optimistic as last year was the first of many that was not drought up here. Perhaps our cycle is turning around??!

Cowman: Yesterday, Bonnyville council put forth a motion to support Red Deer Countys resolution to scrap education taxes on farm land during this BSE crisis. Small victory, but a victory non the less!

[cropduster]

Enlightening comments Tom4 wondering how this can be Ration-Alized??????

[Horse]

Norrh west of edmonton we had a good snow fall but no reserve and the wind did a number on the snow the pastures are in very bad shape and without good rain or snow we are in trouble right now I ddoubt the doughouts will fill 2 yr ago the doughouts were dry all summer

[cowman]

Hopefully more municipalities will get on the bandwagon to scrap the education tax on farm land. I was at a town hall meeting a couple of days ago and a farmer brought the subject up. The basic injustice of the farmer being taxed more than the town person for education is something that needs to be addressed? The only problem is, as our illustrious government likes to point out, is where will the money come from? Well if education is important for all Albertans then ALL Albertans should pay equally for it? Unfortunately our King Ralph likes to spend like a drunken sailor and throw money around so people will like him and besides he knows the rural peasants will never vote him out, so why should he make any changes? After all the King doesn't have to listen to the peasants right? The peasants duty is to the king not the other way around! Maybe we need a REVOLUTION? Do you know where we can find a good cheap used guillotine?

[bombay_43]

No, but I have heard that there is this "cowman" in southern Alberta, who is pretty handy building things! He's toying with the idea of getting out of cattle, maybe he would be willing to start building guillotins!

[moffat]

South east Sask. Little fall reserve,good snowfall but most of it blew bad. There will be a good runnoff how much goes in anybodys guess.

[cowman]

In the last few days we have been getting a slow melt under the snow and it seems to be going into the ground fairly well. I'm actually hoping we get the late"ugly" snow storm like last year even though it was tough on the calves! We basically pulled off a bumper crop from that last ugly May storm!
Do you ever get the feeling the damned weather is changing?

[ianben]

Hi Tom

Good to hear your w wheat at least yeilded well.

Prices here in UK are much better this year due to weather events in rest of europe/FSU.
Yeilds were average harvest dry and easy giving us nice return.

Not down to me in any way really though just a weather event and luck. Wish I had forseen the fall of the US dollar as prices have slipped since christmas.

CWB in my view has an impossible job.

How can a seller of anything who has no incentive to gain a premium and an obligation to sell whatever is produced of whatever quality and quantity be concidered an asset in the market place.

I am right in saying CWB employees have no incentives or guidance on price arent I?
And they must sell what Canadian farmers feel like or nature allows them to produce?

If this is true then CWB must be desablising force on world markets.

In my opinion no one should be allowed to sell anything without being reponsible for the consequences and invovled in the financial returns.