| | 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.
As harvesting equipment continues to roll throughout the prairies, the annual softening of prices at this time of year is once again kicking in. However, in the grass and legume end of things, these “softer” prices may be trend setting for the upcoming year, as large inventories of most grass and legume seed stocks are now being added to by this years’ production.
Processors continue to report slow new sales and seed movement. With warehouses full, single shifts at the processing plants are the norm this year, unlike previous years when 24 hour shifts would be occurring.
The Peace regions’ creeping red fescue crop is off, with early indications a slightly below average yielding crop coming off. But with fewer acres this year, total production will be well down. Price quotes are still in the 40 to 45 ¢/lb, with certified 5 ¢/lb higher.
The forage grass seed sector also remains stagnant, as few new sales have been reported. Prices are also feeling the harvest pressure, as grass prices have slipped across the board. Last quotes for smooth brome grass quotes were in the 40 to 50 ¢/lb range for common seed, with Certified Carlton 5 to 10 ¢/lb higher. Meadow brome grass seed quotes are now in the $1.20-$1.30/lb range. Common timothy seed quotes have backed down to the 30-40 ¢/lb range. Certified Climax timothy is quoted at a 10 to 15 ¢/lb premium. With a lack of new buying, and this lack of demand situation continuing to drag on, a turn-around does not appear to be near.
On the legume side of thing, common alfalfa seed prices are in the $1.00 to $1.20/lb range, despite Manitoba’s alfalfa seed situation, where wet conditions predominate, and a crop will not come off in many traditional alfalfa seed growing areas. Alsike clover quotes were in the 35-45 ¢/lb range, while Red clover quotes were anywhere’s from 60 ¢ to a 80¢/lb. Sweet clover quotes were similar to alsike quotes, at 35 to 40 ¢/lb.
In what should be a very busy time of year for seed processors, the opposite is holding true. There’s still very few new orders, and good seed inventories remain in both the US and Canada. Until processors start moving inventory again, growers may have no choice but to store.
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 | Cert #1 | Common #1 | Cert #1 | Common #1 | Cert #1 | Common #1 | Cert #1 | Common #1 | Common #1 | Common #1 | Common #1 |
Feb 5-08 | 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 5-09 | 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 |
May 4 | 40-45 | 50-55 | 45-50 | 55-60 | 150-160 | 160-170 | 40 | 45-55 | 100-125 | 80-100 | 35-40 | 35-40 |
June 2 | 40-45 | 50-55 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 150-160 | 160-170 | 40 | 45-55 | 100-125 | 80-100 | 35-40 | 35-40 |
July 7 | 40-45 | 50-55 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 150-160 | 160-170 | 40 | 45-55 | 100-125 | 80-100 | 35-40 | 35-40 |
Aug 4 | 42-45 | 50-55 | 40-50 | 50-60 | 130-140 | 140-160 | 35-40 | 45-55 | 100-130 | 80-100 | 35-45 | 35-40 |
Sept 1 | 40-45 | 50-52 | 40-45 | 45-50 | 120-130 | 140-150 | 30-40 | 45-55 | 100-130 | 60-80 | 40-45 | 30-40 |
Prices are quotes only, until orders come in, that's when firm pricing is established.
- prices in ¢/lb
Last updated Aug 4, 2009
Grass and legumes seed price quotes (cents/lb)
Prepared by David Wong, Market Specialist, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development
Ag-Info Centre 310-3276 |
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