Mitchell Wants Larger Federal BRM Contribution

Provincial Agriculture Minister Carol Mitchell says the grain and oilseed sector needs "bankability, predictability and stability."
Speaking at the first annual general meeting of the Grain Farmers of Ontario in Guelph Thursday, Mitchell pointed out the province has shown support for the sector by extending the existing risk management program for grain and oilseed producers by one year.
However, Mitchell feels the federal Conservatives should be making an even larger contribution...

(GFO-Mitchell-1)

While a commitment by the federal government to look at the program in 2013 is a positive sign, she feels action on the issue is needed sooner.

Sept. 10 - Closing Markets

BLACKBURN AGRI-MEDIA CLOSING MARKET REPORT:
Date: 09-10-10

On the Chicago Board of Trade:

Corn Futures:
September up 7 and a half at 4.64
December up 7 and a half at 4.78 and a quarter

Soybean Futures:
September down 14 and a quarter at 10.23 and a half
November down 15 at 10.31

Wheat Futures:
September down 2 at 7.04 and a half
December down 1 and a quarter at 7.36 and a half

Oat Futures:
September up 15 and a quarter at 3.17
December up 9 and a quarter at 3.24

-> FROM DAUPHIN FEED AND SUPPLY, THE 48% SOYBEAN MEAL QUOTE, F-O-B HAMILTON = $368/tonne

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

Note there are basis changes for old and new corn - old and new beans - and old and new soft red winter wheat:

09 CROP CORN = up 2 at 4.08/BU
2010 CROP CORN = up 2 at 4.08/BU
2011 CROP CORN = down 3 at 3.99/BU

09 CROP SOYS = down 10 at 9.76/BU
2010 CROP SOYS = down 10 at 9.76/BU
2011 CROP SOYS = down 6 at 9.57/BU

2010 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = down 7 at 5.22/BU
2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = down 2 at 5.27/BU
2012 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 5 at 5.20/BU

(O-C-A Report)

-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:

Total sales for the week = 71,741
That's down 15,576 from the previous week.
Included were 61,498 contract hogs
and 8,785 exports.
The Ontario Pool Price = $139.62 per 100 kilograms.
The Ontario Pool Plus Price = $154.20 per 100 kilograms.
Friday's preliminary U-S National Cost Price = $82.96
that's up $1.01
Friday's opening forward contract price for December-January delivery = $149.43
That's down $1.56 from Thursday.

OIMPA - Small Abattoir Funding Good News

A spokesperson for the Ontario Independent Meat Processor's Association says new funding will help small and medium-sized abattoirs meet some of today's meat safety challenges.
Association Executive Director Lori Nicol says the 1 point 5 million in provincial money will also help some of them expand their operations.

(NICOL-Abattoirs-1)

Nicol says funding directed towards expanding operations will also help them become more competitive.

Good News Continues For Canola Crop

OMAFRA is reporting the news continues to be good for this year's canola crop.
The harvest is reported progressing rapidly although frequent showers have interrupted things in some areas.
Canola yields this year range from above average to outstanding with excellent quality.
Crop specialist Horst Bohner reports that above average heat unit accumulation and dry late season conditions have sped up soybean maturity.
He says if the weather co-operates a significant amount of this year's crop will be harvested this month.
Bohner says while yields are still expected to be good the dry August has now reserved some expectations because the top pods did not fill out as much as they might have.
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Brought to you by the Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association
OSCIA web page http://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/
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OMAFRA Field Crop Report September 9, 2010

For emerging issues, questions or to provide feedback on this report, contact the CropLine at:
1-888-449-0937. Technical information can also be obtained at the OMAFRA Field Crop Webpage at www.ontario.ca/crops and Crop Pest Ontario at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/croppest

Canola Report: Brian Hall

Harvest is progressing rapidly although frequent showers have interrupted harvest. Yields range from above average to outstanding (1 - 1.75 t/ac). Quality remains excellent, with some backlog in deliveries to Hamilton.
Harvest as soon as possible to reduce pod shattering losses from alternaria (black pod). Alternaria is favoured by heavy dews and frequent showers.

Soybeans: Horst Bohner

August was dry for most regions. Some areas received essentially no rainfall in August. Above average heat unit accumulation and dry late season conditions have sped up soybean maturity. Some fields are in the R7 (beginning maturity) while many are in the R8 (full maturity) growth stage. A few early beans have already been harvested. If the weather permits significant acreage will be harvested during the month of September this year. Yields are still expected to be good but expectations are now more reserved because the month of August was so dry. Top pods did not fill out as much as they might have with more soil moisture.

Edible Bean Report: Brian Hall

Cranberry harvest is mostly complete with average to excellent yields ( 18 - 28 cwt/ac) and good seed size. Early yield reports on white and other types are highly variable 17 - 30 cwt/ac. Extended dry weather is rapidly advancing maturity on longer season bean types and may impact seed size and quality. Anthracnose is the biggest issue in white beans in many areas. Highest levels are in areas receiving under 2800 CHU. Only one variety (T9903) is resistant to known races of anthracnose, all other varieties are affected to varying degrees. Some dealers have implemented discounts due to anthracnose over and above dockage and pick charges. Identify and avoid harvesting anthracnose hot spots in fields. It could make the difference in harvesting a marketable product. Carefully inspect seed fields for anthracnose and bacterial blight before keeping any seed. Pre-harvest treatments are performing well allowing normal harvest timing. Correctly time preharvest applications to pod colour change to achieve optimum quality and avoid risk of seed residues.

Diseases: Albert Tenuta

As corn producers plan for harvest they should be assessing their fields for stalk rot problems. The majority of stalk rot damage in Ontario is caused by four fungi (Anthracnose, Gibberella, Diplodia and Fusarium) and although these fungi cause different symptoms their ultimate effect on the corn plant is the same - they reduce grain fill, stalk integrity and accelerate senescence. The distribution and prevalence of these diseases vary from year to year but they are present every year, especially when the crop is under stress (from lack of moisture, insect feeding, etc.). There are two methods (push and pinch test) used to test for stalk rot.
A - The Push Test
1. Randomly select 100 plants (20 plants from 5 different areas of the field).
2. As the name implies, push the top portion of the plant 15 to 20 cm (6 - 8 in.) from the vertical and note whether the plant lodged or not.
B - The Pinch or Squeeze Test
1. Randomly select 100 plants in the field, (20 plants from 5 different locations).
2. Remove lower leaves and pinch or squeeze the stalk above the brace roots.
3. Record the number of rotted stalks. If 10 to 15 percent of the plants lodged or rotted, harvest the crop early. The extra drying charges which may result, will be covered by an increase in harvest efficiencies with less corn left in the field.

Winter and Spring Cereals: Peter Johnson, Scott Banks

Winter cereal planting is underway. Maintain reduced seeding rates (1.2 million seeds/ac) until within 7 days of optimum seeding dates. Cruiser treated seed offers protection against aphids and the spread of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in early seeded wheat. Later plantings have shown little yield benefit to the inclusion of a seed insecticide treatment. Seed placed starter fertilizers have shown excellent yield benefit even with early planted wheat (6.5 bu/ac). However, the biggest management impact a grower can have is by seeding early. Yields decline by 1 bu/ac/day for every day seeding is delayed past the optimum date.
Fall glyphosate applications can be completed either preplant or preemerge. Watch preemerge applications of glyphosate, as seeding into warm soils will speed emergence. Where preplant glyphosate is preferred, do not delay planting significantly. Use the rainfast period of the product as an indication of the delay required between glyphosate application and planting. Only Refine Extra or bromoxynil/MCPA formulations can be applied to emerged wheat. Do not worry about volunteer canola or edible beans in emerging wheat. Research has shown that even very heavy pressure of these volunteer crops has little yield impact, while winter annual or perennial weeds (dandelion, chickweed, perennial sowthistle, etc) have significant yield impact.

Have a question? Call the OMAFRA CROPLINE at: 1 888-449-0937

An audio version of the OMAFRA CropLine is available at www.ontario.ca/crops under "podcasts"

Growmark Co-Ops To Get $55 Patronage Refunds

Growmark is reporting an estimated net income of 81 million dollars for the fiscal year ending August 31st.
The regional cooperative provides agriculture-related products and services as well as grain marketing in Ontario and 23 states in the U-S.
It also owns the FS trademark.
Growmark spokesman Jeff Solberg says the cooperative has a very strong balance sheet and a sound equity base.
Because of those results an estimated 55 million dollars in patronage refunds will be flowing back to Growmark member cooperatives.

U. of G. Prof Has Green Energy Concerns

An agricultural and natural resource economist has expressed some concern about the province's green energy policy.
According Nathan Stevens of the Christian Farmer's Federation, Glenn Fox is critical of the way the province is setting different prices for different types of renewable energy.

(STEVENS-Renewable-1)

Fox is a professor at the University of Guelph.

(Full CFFO Commentary)

Ag Trade Balance Slips A Little

Canada's balance of trade in agricultural and fishing products slipped a little in July of this year compared to a year ago.
We exported about 575 million dollars more of those products than we imported this past July.
In July of 2009 the difference was about 619 million.
The value of our agricultural and fishing product exports this past July was down about 40 million dollars from a year ago.
The value of our imports was up 4 million.
Overall Canada's trade deficit with the world widened to 2 point 7 billion in July from 900 million in July of 2009.

Principal Canadian Field Crop Stocks Generally Up

Statistics Canada says total stocks of principal field crops in this country to the end of July were generally up from a year ago.
Wheat stocks were up over 19 per cent - and canola stocks were up almost 28 per cent.
There were drops reported in oats, down about 23 and a half per cent - and barley stocks were down just over 9 per cent.
Statscan got those numbers from a survey of farmers on how much grain, oilseeds and special crops they have in on-farm storage.
Data on commercial stocks of western major crops originate from the Canadian Grain commission.
Commercial stocks of corn and soybeans will be released by Statistics Canada on October 4th.