Grass and Legume Seed Market Update - December 3, 2008

 
  From the Dec 3, 2008 Issue of the Grass and Legume Seed Market Update
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 Note: prices provided are normally given as grower prices, quoted by processors to growers after cleaning and dockage. However, with quotes now not being offered by many companies, last quotes may be provided.

The Canadian Grass and Legume Seed Marketplace is not immune to the happenings in the Global world financial and stock markets. Since the fall, with the ever-broadening world stock and financial crisis, grass seed processors have found a lot of time on their hands. In other words, the grass and legume seed marketplace is very slow, with very little grass seed movement being reported. Pre-bought orders are not being asked to be delivered, while any semblance of new business generally includes only partial orders of this and that, enough to fill a container, maybe. The marketplace is so slow, that price quotes for many species are not even being offered. Most buyers and growers are aware that under normal situations, we are basically in a shortage position for many of our grass and legume seed supplies. But with no buyers, price quotes are not very good because no one knows the actual value of that crop. Once we get out of these dismal economic times, everyone is hopeful movement and buying will resume again, possibly in the spring. Until then, it’s wait time.

With very few new seed orders, price quotes have backed off. No one is buying right now. Some major companies not even quoting Creeping red fescue prices. The last quotes have common creeping red fescue around the 60 – 62 ¢/lb range, with certified 10 ¢/lb higher.

The same holds for the forage grass seed sector, most prices are starting to be pressured due to a lack of demand. Smooth bromegrass, with good inventories in North America, remain down in the 55 to 65 ¢/lb range, with certified Carlton in the 65 – 70 ¢/lb range. Meadow brome grass is the $1.50-$1.70/lb range. Certified Fleet meadow brome quotes are anywhere from $1.70 to $1.90. Common timothy quotes and are at the 45 to 50 ¢/lb mark. Certified Climax timothy is quoted at a 10 to 20 ¢/lb premium.

On the legume side of thing, Sweet clover quotes are in the 40 to 50 ¢/lb range, but demand is limited. Alsike clover quotes are around 50 - ¢/lb range. Red clover continues to be strong, $1.00 to $1.15/lb. Common alfalfa seed prices have moved back up to the $1.20 to $1.40/lb range, depending on the variety initially grown.

Grass and Legume Seed Prices
Commodity
Creeping Red Fescue
Boreal  C R Fescue
Smooth Brome grass
Carlton Smooth Brome grass
Meadow Brome grass
Fleet Meadow Brome grass
Timothy
Climax Timothy
Alfalfa
Red Clover
Alsike Clover
Sweet Clover
 
Common #1 - Min 97% Pure, 85% Germ
Certified #1
Common #1
Certified #1
Common #1
Certified #1
Common #1
Certified #1
Common #1
Common #1
Common #1
Common #1
Jan 8-07
45
47
110 - 115
140-145
120 - 130
150 - 160  
20-25
40 - 45
90 - 95
65 - 70
25 - 30 
25 - 30 
2-Feb
45
45 - 47
110 - 120
130 - 135
120 - 125
150 - 155
20 - 30
40 - 45
90 - 95
65 - 75
25 - 35
20 - 30
2-Mar
45
45-52
115-130
135-140
120-150
150-160
20-25
45-50
90-95
65-75
25-35
20-30
2-Apr
46-47
47-50
130
155-160
160-165
185-190
25-30
45-55
90-100
65-75
25-30
20-25
4-May
48-50
50-55
120-130
150-160
160-165
180-190
25-30
45-55
90-100
65-75
25-30
20-25
28-May
46-47
49-52
120-130
150-160
160-165
180-190
25-30
45-50
90-105
65-75
25-30
20-25
22-Jun
45-46
47-50
120-130
150-160
160-165
180-190
30
45-50
90-105
65-75
25-30
20-25
13-Jul
45-46
47-50
120-130
150-160
160-165
180-190
30
45-50
90-105
65-75
25-30
20-25
13-Aug
42-45
45-50
100-130
150-160
150-165
170-190
25-30
45-50
100-110
65-75
25-30
25-30
7-Sep
45
50
100-130
150-160
150-165
170-190
25-30
45-55
105-110
65-80
25-35
25-30
3-Oct
45
50
110-130
150-160
150-165
170-190
25-35
45-55
105-115
65-80
25-35
25-30
7-Nov
45
55-60
110
140-155
150-165
180-195
25-35
50-55
120-125
70-80
25-30
25-30
5-Dec
45-46
60+
130
140-155
150-165
180-195
25-35
50-55
120-125
75-85
25-30
25-30
31-Dec
0.5
75
130-150
140-155
150-165
180-195
25-35
50-55
120-125
75-85
25-30
25-30
Feb 5-08
50
60
130-140
140-150
160-170
190
35+
55-60
120-130
85-100
35
25-30
11-Mar
52-55
60
130-140
140-150
160-170
190
35-40
55-60
120-130
85-100
35-37
25-30
1-Apr
55
60-70
130-140
140-150
160-170
190
35-40
55-60
120-130
85-100
35-37
25-30
6-May
60
65-75
120-135
140-150
160 - 170
170-190
45-50
55-65
115-130
85-100
23-40
25-30
3-Jun
62-65
70-75
120-130
130-145
160-170
170-190
50
60-65
100-120
85-100
35-45
30
8-Jul
62-65
65 - 70
100-120
110-120
150-160
170-190
50
60-65
100-125
85-100
35-45
30
5-Aug
65-68
80-90
85-110
110-120
150-160
170-190
50
65-70
100-125
85-100
35-45
30
2-Sep
65-68
80-85
55-65
65-70
150-170
170 -190
50-55
65-75
100-125
90-110
45-50
45-55
29-Sep
65
80
55-60
65-70
165-170
170-190
50
65-70
120-140
100-110
50-60
40-50
4-Nov
62-65
75-80
55-60
65-70
165-170
170-190
45-50
65-70
120-130
100-115
45-50
40-50
2-Dec
60-62
70-75
55-60
65-70
150-170
170-190
45-50
55-70
120-140
100-115
45-50
40-50
Prices are quotes only, until actual orders come in, that's when firm pricing is established
- prices in ¢/lb
last updated: Dec 2, 08

 
 
 
 
For more information about the content of this document, contact David K. Wong.
This document is maintained by Brenda McLellan.
This information published to the web on December 3, 2008.
Last Reviewed/Revised on March 9, 2009.