On the Chicago Board of Trade:

Corn Futures:
July up 10 and a half at 6.35 and a half
September up 8 at 5.46 and a half

Soybean Futures:
July down 33 at 14.05
August down 24 and a quarter at 13.81

Wheat Futures:
July up 37 and a half at 6.95 and a quarter
September up 33 and a half at 7.03

Oat Futures:
July up 1 and a half at 3.40
September up 1 and a half at 3.44 and a half

Local Grain: From Thompson’s at Black’s Lane;

2011 CROP CORN = 20 under July = 6.16/BU
2012 CROP CORN = 65 under December = 4.72/BU

OLD CROP SOYS = 55 under July = 13.50/BU
2012 CROP SOYS = 60 under November = 12.28/BU

2011 CROP SOFT WHITE WINTER WHEAT = 15 under July = 6.80/BU
2012 CROP SOFT WHITE WINTER WHEAT = 25 over July = 7.20/BU

2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = 40 under July = 6.55/BU
2012 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = 35 under July = 6.60/BU

-> FROM DAUPHIN FEED AND SUPPLY, THE 48% SOYBEAN MEAL QUOTE, F-O-B HAMILTON = $499/tonne

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

2011 CROP CORN = up 10 at 6.16/BU
2012 CROP CORN = up 8 at 4.72/BU

2011 CROP SOYS = down 33 at 13.50/BU
2012 CROP SOYS = down 18 at 12.28/BU

2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 37 at 6.60/BU
2012 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 37 at 6.65/BU

MAY 18 – Ontario Cattlemen’s Association

-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:

The U-S CME price = $81.49 U-S per hundredweight, dressed weight.
That’s up $1.32

100% formula price = $149.83 per hundred kilograms, dressed weight.
That’s up $3.34

Quebec’s average price on May 17th = $148.43 per hundred kilograms, dressed weight, 100 index.

For the week of: May 6-12

Average total value price = $166.54

Total hogs sold = 88,238

10 head of cattle have apparently decided on a long-weekend road trip.

The animals have gone missing from a farm east of Lucknow.

There are 2 steers and 8 heifers in the bunch – including limo cross, Charolais and blacks.

The owner, of course, would like to have them back.

If you’ve got any information on these missing cattle in the Lucknow area call 519-440-9204.

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange has changed it’s proposal for longer electronic trading hours.

The proposal cuts the hours from 22 to 21 and changes the start-end times.

Under the new proposal the trading will start at 5 p.m. and close at 2 p.m..

The CME’s Tim Andriesen says they’ve made the change in response to significant feedback from the grain industry.

Todd Kemp is a spokesman for the U-S National Grain and Feed Association.

He says the proposal addresses their concerns.

The industry had argued the original 4 o’clock ending would make it difficult and expensive for grain companies to complete their end-of-day bookkeeping and back office functions.

The CME says daily settlements will continue to be based on market activity at or around 1:15 Central Time.

The open-outcry trading hours will not change under this proposal.

The CME wants to expand it’s trading hours to compete with the Intercontinental Exchange, which started trading grains earlier this week.

The CME’s latest proposal needs to go through a 10 day review process before it can go into effect.

China made an impact on corn and soybean markets again this week.

Grain Farmers of Ontario analyst Ahmed Chilmeran says the purchase of 900 thousand tonnes of U-S corn boosted prices.

Chilmeran says that’s the 8th largest one-day trade ever.

Most of that deal involves corn to be shipped in the next marketing year.

And the China National Grain and Oils Information Centre gave a bit of a boost to soybean prices.

The Centre projected a 7 per cent drop in China’s soy production as farmers there shift to growing corn for higher returns.

Chilmeran says the forecast that dry weather will continue in parts of the U-S wheat belt in the near future had an impact on that grain’s pricing this week as well.

Grain Farmers of Ontario Grain Market Commentary – May 16 – Ahmed Chilmeran;

Failure of political parties in Greece to form a government following an inconclusive election earlier has left investors in a state of panic with the idea of Athens leaving the euro zone and a spillover to larger economies being a realistic option. European banks have been on the worst end of the deal, with Greek banks shedding up to 18% in the past three month. The weak state of the banking sector in Greece is characterized with Greeks pulling euros out of the banks in fear that their country might abandon the euro, even though EU powerhouses Germany and France intend on keeping Athens inside the club. EU s STOXX volatility index, a crude measure of investor fear in Europe, has risen up by more than 100% since mid-March when Spain issues about not being able to meet its austerity targets surfaced. The TSX initially dipped on EU fears, but recovered by midday Wednesday. The loonies rebounded from a 16 week low on Wednesday following better than expected North American data.

CORN

Corn rose in Chicago for the third straight day following US sales to China, the world s biggest hog producer, signaling increased demand for feedstock. China purchased 900,000 tonnes of US corn in the 8th largest one-day trade ever, with most of the supplies ready for shipment in the next marketing year according to the USDA.

SOYBEANS

Soybean was firm in Chicago with spot basis bids steady to higher at processors and river terminals around the Midwest. Crop supplies tightened due to slow farmer sales, according to various dealers. The China National Grain and Oils Information Center projected a 7% drop in China’s 2012 soy production after a 10.5% fall in 2011 as farmers shift to grow corn due to higher returns.

WHEAT

Wheat prices rose in Chicago to a two week high over concerns about dry conditions for the developing US winter crop. The lack of rain hitting the driest US areas is expected to continue in the near future and may have an impact on yields. The cash market on the other hand was quiet for the most part on Wednesday as farmers are focusing on planting and not booking wheat for sale.

Weed control should be a priority for Ontario corn growers.

OMAFRA’s Greg Stewart says about 95 per cent of the crop has been planted and it’s approaching that critical 3-4 leaf stage.

He says cutworm injury has been reported in some areas south of London so farmers should scout fields that had significant weed growth before planting.

Soybean specialist Horst Bohner says 50 – 60 per cent of that crop is now seeded.

He says crusting has been a problem in a few areas but it’s not significant so far.

This week’s provincial crop report says winter cereals are far ahead of normal development.

Because of that, farmers are being advised that combines need to be ready to harvest two weeks earlier than ever before.

Heavy rains in several areas have resulted in crusting and emergence issues for some of the province’s canola growers.

They’re also being advised to be on the lookout for flea beetles.

Pressure from them is high in some areas.

And the province’s forage yield expectations are being described as variable but well below normal in many areas.

May 16, 2012 OMAFRA Field Crop Report

This issue of the Crop Report will be posted as soon as possible
on the OMAFRA website at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/field/reports/

For more information please contact the CropLine at
1-888-449-0937 or visit www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest

Canola/Edible Beans: Brian Hall

Canola: Early planted canola is at
1-2 leaf and later April planted canola is cotyledon to 1 leaf stage. Heavy
rains in several areas resulted in crusting and emergence issues. Flea beetle
pressure is high in some areas. Populations are highest in field borders. Scout
emerged canola for flea beetles up to 4 leaf stage. Threshold for control is 25%
leaf feeding. Timing for flea beetle control may precede weed control. Critical
weed control period is 1-4 leaf stage but schedule weed control at early stages.
Take time to clean spray tanks thoroughly before applying post-emergent
herbicide, canola is quite sensitive to many products.

Edible Beans: Seeding rate for white
or black beans in 15 inch rows is 150,000 seeds/ac (3  4 seeds/foot of row),
110,000 seeds/ac in 21 inch rows (3.5 – 4.5 seeds/ft) and 90,000 seeds/ac (4.5 -
5 seeds/ft) in 30 inch rows. Dry beans require significant moisture to
germinate. Plant into excellent soils conditions, at a uniform depth of 1.5 -
2.5 inches and 1.25cm (½ ) into moist soil.

Corn: Greg Stewart

Corn planting is 95 % complete across the province. Emergence is
good to excellent in most areas with the majority of the corn in the 1-3 leaf
stage. Weed control should be the priority as the crop approaches the critical
3-4 leaf stage. Cutworm injury has been reported in some areas south of London.
Scout fields that had significant weed growth before planting. Guidelines for
post-emerge UAN application: 1) UAN (fan nozzle) and herbicide – max. 2 leaf
corn, 2) UAN (fan nozzle) no herbicide – max. 3 leaf corn, 3) UAN (streamer
nozzle) – max. 6 leaf corn. Loss of N through volatilization will be greater if
surface applied UAN does not receive rainfall to incorporate into the soil.
Possible strategies are: 1) delay application until rainfall is more likely, 2)
apply additional N (15%) to compensate for losses, 3) add a urease inhibitor
(i.e. Agrotain) to reduce volatilization losses or 4) switch application
strategies to sidedress injection.

Cereals: Peter Johnson/Scott Banks

Winter cereals are far ahead of
normal development. Rye and barley are in full head, advanced wheat fields are
at head emergence. Combines need to be ready to harvest two weeks earlier than
ever before. Dry weather and low fusarium risk has some growers questioning the
need for fusarium control. Remember that the fusarium fungicides Caramba and
Prosaro give foliar leaf disease control and improve straw yields and quality,
along with reduced fusarium and DON concentrations in the grain. Leaf disease
pressure remains low with some powdery mildew pressure. Aphid populations are
building in wheat fields along the Lake Erie shoreline. Scout!

Spring cereals continue to progress
with early fields at first node (GS 31). Many producers are waiting to apply
herbicides to get more value from the fungicide application. Early fungicides
have little yield impact in spring cereals. If weed pressure is significant, or
grass weeds are an issue, this decision may cost growers in lost yield
potential.

Forages/Pastures: Joel Bagg/Jack Kyle

Forages: Forage yield expectations
are variable, but well below normal in many areas. Alfalfa fields severely
damage by winterkill and disease are being harvested early and planted into corn
for silage. Information on nitrogen credits available from legume crops is
available at http://bit.ly/omafraNAdjustments. Alfalfa weevil larvae
have been detected in the south-west. Feeding damage starts as leaf pinholes,
progresses to feeding between the leaf veins and results in a skeletonized
appearance. More information is available at http://bit.ly/omafraAlfalfaWeevil. Maturity of alfalfa
is extremely variable due to frost damage and poor growth. Many forage plants
are showing more advanced maturity then would be expected for plant size. Dairy
producers generally target harvesting first-cut alfalfa haylage at an optimum
40% NDF.  Scissors-cut field sampling and rapid laboratory analysis can help
predict optimal harvest dates, http://bit.ly/omafraForageQuality.

Pastures: The warmer temperatures
this week have made for faster grass growth. Using a quick rotation to graze all
paddocks before the grass becomes mature is important. In a rotational system
look to the last paddock in the rotation and adjust the rotation speed to arrive
at the last paddock when it is at the right stage of growth. Applying 40 kg/ha
of nitrogen after the first or second rotation will stimulate growth. If
additional feed will be needed, consider seeding an annual crop for grazing, http://bit.ly/omafraAnnualForages.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner

Fifty to sixty per cent of the crop is now seeded. Some
producers are finished. Very early planted beans have emerged. Under cool
conditions it can take 30 days for beans to emerge. In warm temperatures beans
can emerge in 4 to 7 days. Crusting has been a problem in a few areas, but not
significant problem so far. If fields were not rolled right after seeding, make
sure to check how much growth there is on the seedling before rolling. Beans
should not be rolled during the hook stage of emergence. If the beans are close
to emergence wait for the unifoliate stage before rolling.

Weather Summary:(source: www.weatherinnovations.com/weathersummary.cfm)

Aggregate extraction needs to be balanced against the province’s need to maintain it’s best farmland for the purpose of farming.

That was one of the principals the Christian Farmers Federation outlined to the provincial committee reviewing Ontario’s aggregate extraction regulations.

The CFFO’s Nathan Stevens says they’ve identified a number of land use concerns when it comes to gravel extraction.

STEVENS-Extract-1

Stevens says the Federation also wants aggregate operators to surrender their licenses in a timely manner following extraction to speed up the rehabilitation of the site to an appropriate land use – and preferably for agricultural uses.

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario wants the province to properly weigh the value of agriculture and the agri-food sector when it looks at the rules for aggregate use in the province.

Spokesman Nathan Stevens says there are a number of broad strategic and policy directions that should be considered that relate to aggregate resource use in Ontario.

STEVENS-Extract-2

Those comments were part of the Federation’s recent presentation to the provincial government committee reviewing aggregate extraction regulations .

The CFFO Commentary

Title: The CFFO s thoughts on the Aggregate Resources Act Review

By Nathan Stevens

May 18, 2012

The provincial government is conducting a review of the Aggregate Resources Act. This is an important piece of legislation for the agriculture sector due to competition for land within the rural countryside. The Christian Farmers submitted comments reflecting the long-term balance needed between aggregates and farmland.

In the big picture, the CFFO recognizes that aggregate extraction is essential for infrastructure development, and that municipalities are significant users of these resources. As a bulk resource, transportation is a significant cost factor, which has made a  close to home extraction strategy a priority over time. However, the availability of significant  close to home resources for the Greater Golden Horseshoe is diminishing, leading to broader considerations in the long-term.

Balanced against the economic aggregate extraction priority is the long-term strategic priority for Ontario to maintain its best farmland for the purpose of farming. Ontario is blessed with significant regions of high quality land, a moderate climate and tremendous access to fresh water. Secondly, Ontario is home to the second largest food processing hub in North America. Ensuring that the raw product for this hub remains  close to home should be strategically significant for this province as it struggles economically and seeks strengths to build upon.

The CFFO has identified a number of land use concerns. The first is that that in Specialty Crop Areas, no aggregate extraction be allowed under any circumstance. Second, areas of class 1-3 farmland, including  rural land that was considered to be of Class 1-3 quality at some point in the past, that no extraction be allowed below the water table. Finally, that aggregate operators be required to surrender their licenses in a timely manner following extraction to expedite rehabilitation of the site to an appropriate land use, preferably for agricultural uses.

There are also a number of broad strategic and policy directions that should be considered that relate to aggregate resource use in Ontario. First, recycling and re-use of aggregate resources on redevelopment sites must become a priority. Secondly, transportation infrastructure will need to be re-evaluated as the  close to home aggregate strategy becomes less feasible over time.

The Aggregate Resources Act plays an important role in the rural landscape. From the CFFO perspective, the review needs to be sure it properly weighs the value of agriculture and the agri-food sector, and the land that serves as its foundation, when considering new possibilities for the rules surrounding aggregate use in Ontario.

Nathan Stevens is the Interim Manager and Director of Policy Development for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. The CFFO Commentary represents the opinions of the writer and does not necessarily represent CFFO policy. The CFFO Commentary is heard weekly on CFCO Chatham, CKNX Wingham, and UCB Canada radio stations in Chatham, Belleville, Bancroft, Brockville and Kingston. It is also archived on the CFFO website: www.christianfarmers.org. CFFO is supported by 4,200 family farmers across Ontario.

The Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers organisation says farmers are working with the Ministry of Environment to cut back on the amount of chemicals entering the water.

General Manager George Gilvasey says they’re hoping the government will help them deal with the problem through the Nutrient Management Act.

greenhouse1

Gilvasey says the province’s greenhouse owners have spent upwards of 71 million dollars on water reclamation projects.

The MOE recently found high levels of phosphorous in two Leamington-area creeks and traced the problem back to greenhouse holding ponds.

The source of high levels of phosphorous in a couple of Leamington-area creeks have been traced back to greenhouse holding ponds.

George Gilvasey with the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers says the growers have already spent a lot of money to deal with the problem.

greenhouse2

Gilvasey says they were told about the problem over a year ago.

He says greenhouse vegetable growers are hoping the MOE will let them deal with the problem through the provincial Nutrient Management Act.

Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers have already spent over 70 million dollars to deal with the problem of phosphorous getting into waterways.

The Ministry of Environment has traced the phosphorous in two Leamington-area creeks to greenhouse holding ponds.

Vegetable growers spokesman George Gilvasey says the MOE told them about the problem over a year ago.

greenhouse3

Gilvasey says the greenhouse vegetable growers are hoping the Ministry will let them deal with the situation under the province’s Nutrient Management Act.

He says the growers feel it’s an agricultural problem that needs to be dealt with under an agricultural set of rules and regulations.

On the Chicago Board of Trade:

Corn Futures:
July up 5 at 6.25
September up 1 and a half at 5.38 and a half

Soybean Futures:
July up 16 at 14.38
August up 10 at 14.05 and a quarter

Wheat Futures:
July up 19 at 6.57 and a half
September up 18 and a quarter at 6.69 and a half

Oat Futures:
July up 1 at 3.38 and a half
September up 1 and a quarter at 3.43

Local Grain Quotes from Wanstead Farmers Co-operative:

MAY SOYBEANS = 45 under July = 13.93/BU
OCTOBER SOYBEANS = 55 under November = 12.52/BU

MAY CORN = 20 under July = 6.05/BU
NOVEMBER CORN = 65 under December = 4.63/BU

2011 CROP SOFT WHITE WINTER WHEAT = 40 under July = 6.18/BU
2012 CROP SOFT WHITE WINTER WHEAT = 25 over July = 6.83/BU

2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = 40 under July = 6.18/BU
2012 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = 35 under July = 6.23/BU

-> FROM DAUPHIN FEED AND SUPPLY, THE 48% SOYBEAN MEAL QUOTE, F-O-B SEAFORTH = $505/tonne

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

2011 CROP CORN = up 5 at 6.05/BU
2012 CROP CORN = up 2 at 4.63/BU

2011 CROP SOYS = up 16 at 13.83/BU
2012 CROP SOYS = up 4 at 12.47/BU

2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 19 at 6.23/BU
2012 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 19 at 6.28/BU

MAY 17 – Ontario Cattlemen’s Association

Ontario Pork Reports:

The U-S CME price = $80.17 U-S per hundredweight, dressed weight.
That’s up 59 cents

100% formula price = $146.49 per hundred kilograms, dressed weight.
That’s up $2.14

Quebec’s average price on May 16th was $147.50 per hundred kilograms, dressed weight, 100 index.

Farm & Food Care Ontario Chair John Maaskant

Huron County farmer John Maaskant is the first chair of Farm & Food Care Ontario.

That’s the name of the group which merges AGCare and OFAC.

Maaskant says the original two organisations always had strong support from provincial farm organisations and commodity groups.

He says the new organisation is expanding that to include other sectors of the food industry.

MAASKANT-Chair-1

Maaskant says Farm & Food Care Ontario works to help people understand how their food is produced and to have confidence in it.

The organisation’s vice-chair is Larry Lynn – Treasurer is Joe Hickson and the Executive Member At Large is Heather Copland.

The new chair of Farm & Food Care Ontario says some consumers have a weird and strange picture of farming.

Clinton-area farmer John Maaskant says one of his organisation’s jobs is to explain to consumers that farming is not a factory operation.

MAASKANT-Chair-2

Maaskant is the Chicken Farmers of Ontario representative on Farm & Food Care Ontario.

Grain Farmers of Ontario rep Larry Lynn is the organisation’s vice-chair.

Treasurer Joe Hickson represents the Seed Growers Association.

And Executive Member at Large Heather Copland represents Grober Incorporated.

Maaskant says the executive make-up reflects the fact the organisation includes representation from across the food industry.

Growing consumer interest in where their food comes from is helping expand the membership in Farm & Food Care Ontario.

Chair John Maaskant says the organisation’s membership is expanding beyond farm organisations and commodity groups to include other parts of the food industry.

He says the farm input sector and the retail sector realize the importance of the kind of work Farm & Food Care Ontario does.

MAASKANT-Chair-3

Farm & Food Care Ontario is the name of the group formed when AGCare and OFAC merged last year.

Maaskant says they want to be the voice of the industry to consumers when it comes to animal welfare and environmental issues.

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association calls it a common sense proposal.

Not everyone agrees.

The CCA says it supports a change in federal meat inspection regulations which would allow food animals to be euthanized on farms under a vet’s supervision prior to harvesting the meat.

The cattlemen’s group argues this would allow the meat from injured or aggressive animals to be safely harvested.

They say that harvesting would be done in a way that’s respectful to the welfare of the animal and doesn’t put public health or safety at risk.

According to the CCA, this would give farmers other options beyond having an injured animal euthanized and disposed of or trying to get special permission to transport it to a harvesting facility.

The federal NDP has expressed concern about the proposal, suggesting it opens the possibility animals could be processed without knowing how long they’d been dead.