Request for Help - Organic Feed Grain Prices

[charliep]

Have a request from a student at the U. of A. that is doing a project on organic beef. They are looking for a long term organic feed grain price series. AAFRD/AGC have long term prices for conventional feed grains but not organic. Any thoughts about rules of thumb the student might use in adjusting these prices? If you would rather not post but rather contact the student directly, email me at charlie.pearson@gov.ab.ca and will have the student contact you.

[parsley]

1. One of the factors that must be considered is the freight.

In organic, the buyer usually pays the freight. In conventional, the grower pays the freight.

2. Varieties
Ordinary barley is usually 48 lbs/bu isn't it? ie. We grow 55lb barley.
Many varieties designated as "feed" by the CGC, actually reap a premium in organcis. So categorization becomes futile.

3. Most organic growers aim for the food market (but can end up serving the feed market in a year like '04.) Consequently, screenings often end up as a big portion of "feed".


Trying to compare organic and conventional is like trying to compare apples and oranges. Most researchers trying to gather statistics want to apply the identical formats, and they don't work; CAIS was a typical example.

Parsley