Grass and Legume Seed Market Update - March 31, 2009

From the Apr 1, 2009 Issue of Grass and Legume Seed Market Update

Grass and Legume Seed Market Update Home

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.

Now that we’re past March 21st, we can officially call the “grass and legume seed winter doldrums” the “spring doldrums”. Grass and legume seed markets continue to be quiet, with few, if any, new orders coming in. Processors wait with full warehouses, hoping new business comes soon. However, with seed not moving, price quotes are last quotes or have been adjusted lower for slower movement.

In the turf grass sector, companies that are quoting Creeping red fescue are quoting in the 45 to 50 ¢/lb range, but most companies simply are not quoting a price. Data out of the USA shows their fall movement of turf grass seed out of Oregon down 30% from last year.

The forage grass seed sector also remains quiet. Most prices have been pressured due to a lack of demand. Smooth brome grass quotes are in the 45 to 50 ¢/lb range, with Certified Carlton in the 55-65 ¢/lb range. Meadow brome grass seed quotes continue to be strong, with grower price quotes in the $1.50-$1.65/lb range. Common timothy seed quotes have moved down into the 40-45 ¢/lb range. Certified Climax timothy is quoted at a 10 to 15 ¢/lb premium.

On the legume side of thing, common alfalfa seed prices are in the $1.20 to $1.30/lb range, depending on the variety initially grown. Alsike clover quotes have softened to the 35-45 ¢/lb range. Red clover quotes have fallen to the 80 ¢ to $1.10 /lb range. Sweet clover quotes are similar to alsike quotes, 35 to 45 ¢/lb, but with very limited demand.

The grass and legume seed sector has not seen a “dead” season like this in quite some time, if ever. If seed doesn’t start moving over the next 60 days, you can expect prices to crash and storage of seed to become widespread. However, everyone’s hoping business starts to pick up. We’ll see in the next couple of months.

Grass and Legume Seed Quotes

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 Cert #1 Common #1 Cert #1 Common #1 Cert #1 Common #1 Cert #1 Common #1 Common #1 Common #1 Common #1

Feb 5-2008
50
60
130-140
140-150
160-170
190
35+
55-60
120-130
85-100
35
25-30

Mar 11
52-55
60
130-140
140-150
160-170
190
35-40
55-60
120-130
85-100
35-37
25-30

Apr 1
55
60-70
130-140
140-150
160-170
190
35-40
55-60
120-130
85-100
35-37
25-30

May 6
60
65-75
120-135
140-150
160-170
170-190
45-50
55-65
115-130
85-100
23-40
25-30

June 3
62-65
70-75
120-130
130-145
160-170
170-190
50
60-65
100-120
85-100
35-45
30

July 8
62-65
65-70
100-120
110-120
150-160
170-190
50
60-65
100-125
85-100
35-45
30

Aug 5
65-68
80-90
85-110
110-120
150-160
170-190
50
65-70
100-125
85-100
35-45
30

Sept 2
65-68
80-85
55-65
65-70
150-170
170 -190
50-55
65-75
100-125
90-110
45-50
45-55

Sept 29
65
80
55-60
65-70
165-170
170-190
50
65-70
120-140
100-110
50-60
40-50

Nov 4
62-65
75-80
55-60
65-70
165-170
170-190
45-50
65-70
120-130
100-115
45-50
40-50

Dec 2
60-62
70-75
55-60
65-70
160-170
170-190
45-50
55-70
120-140
100-115
45-50
40-50

Jan 5-2009
60-62
65-75
45-60
60-70
160-170
170-190
40-50
50-65
120-150
110-125
40-50
35-50

Feb 3
55-60
65-75
45-60
60-70
160-165
170-190
40-45
50-65
120-150
115-125
40-50
35-50

Mar 3
50-60
60-70
45-55
55-65
155-165
170-180
40-50
55-60
120-140
105-115
40-50
35-50

Mar 31
45-50
50-60
45-50
55-65
155-165
170-180
40-45
45-55
120-130
80-110
35-40
35-40

Prices are quotes only, until actual orders come in, that's when firm pricing is established
- prices in ¢/lb
last updated: Mar 31-09

Prepared by David Wong, Market Specialist, Ag-Info Centre, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development

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 April 1, 2009.