| | Note: prices provided are grower prices, quoted by processors to growers after cleaning and dockage.
Prices for some grass and legume seed species have moved up a bit, in anticipation of lower production this upcoming year. A reduction in seed acres, not only in the Peace region but also in western Canada and throughout the world, is keeping the trade wondering how much production is in store for this year. The worldwide phenomenon of increasing cereal and oilseed production will affect the grass and legumes seed for the next few years.
In the turf sector, creeping red fescue quotes have moved up to around 60 ¢/lb, with fall prices quoted at 65 ¢/lb. This is a good price, but if our dollar hadn’t moved up to it’s present on-par situation with the US dollar, this price would have been 70-76 ¢/lb!!! Certified Boreal creeping red fescue is still showing a 5 to 10 ¢/lb premium.
In the forage grass seed sector, small price movements can be seen Common meadow brome grass seed quotes remain strong, in the $1.60-$1.70/lb range. Certified Fleet meadow brome anywhere from $1.70 to $1.90. Inventories of meadow are low. Common smooth brome grass seed quotes have softened slightly, and are in the $1.20 to $1.35/lb range. Certified Carlton is commanding a 15 to 20 ¢/lb premium. Common timothy has now moved up to the 40 - 50 ¢/lb range, with certified Climax timothy at 50 to 60 cents/lb.
On the legume side of thing, quoted have remained relatively unchanged. Sweet clover quotes remain at 25-30 ¢/lb, with alsike clover quotes around 35 - 37¢/lb. Good quality red clover quotes are between 85¢/lb and $1.00/lb, but good quality seed is scarce. After good early spring movement, common alfalfa seed prices are have softened a bit and are now quoted in the $1.15 to $1.25/lb range.
In summary, the industry continues to be slow, and is still expecting a fallout from the very strong prices in the grains and oilseed sector. With spring in the air, seed movement should be a good indicator of the near term market prospects for all grass and legume seed. So far, retail movement of seed has been slow. |
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