| | Note: prices provided are grower prices, quoted by processors to growers after cleaning and dockage.
Forage seed movement since winter has set in can be considered slow to average, with mainly pre-bought seed being cleaned and moved. However, price movements have been seen in some species.
The news in the turf seed markets is the huge housing crisis in the US. With foreclosures and bankruptcies affecting their housing market, the demand for turf seed this upcoming year is a big unknown at this time. Canadian creeping red fescue acres will be down this year, but prices are still at 50 cent/lb, with fall prices at 60 ¢/lb. Certified Boreal creeping red fescue is finding some European interest, and prices are commanding a 10 ¢/lb premium.
Some forage grass seed species quotes have started to move up. Common meadow brome grass seed prices have moved up to the $1.60-$1.70/lb range, with Certified Fleet meadow brome at $1.90. However, the royalty fee for Certified Fleet was also increased. Inventories of meadow are low. Common timothy is now quoted in the 35+ ¢/lb range, with certified Climax timothy at 50 to 60 cents/lb. Common smooth brome grass seed prices though have softened, and are now in the $1.20 to $1.30/lb range. Certified Carlton is commanding a 15 to 20 ¢/lb premium.
On the legume side of thing, sweet clover and alsike quotes remain at 25-30 ¢/lb for sweet, and around 35 ¢/lb for alsike. However, both alfalfa and red clover prices have been moving up. Common alfalfa seed prices are quoted in the $1.20 to $1.25/lb range, while red clover has now moved up to between 85¢/lb and $1.00/lb. However, good quality red clover seed is hard to find this year.
In summary, the industry is still waiting to see what will happen this spring, not only for the turf seeds, but also the forage grasses and legumes. |
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