| | 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 most followers of the grass and legume seed markets can attest to, this winter has probably been the slowest sales and movement season on record. The grass and legume seed markets continue to be virtually dead. What started last fall, continued through the winter months, and now, with spring here, has not changed. Very few new orders have come in, even with the arrival of spring. The grass and legume seed marketplace came to a virtual halt last fall with the economic crisis the world entered into. And we are still there. Processors are reporting that spring retail sales are now on-going, but on the farmer/wholesale side of things, purchasing, selling and seed movement just isn’t happening.
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 reportedly in the 40 to 45 ¢/lb range, but most companies simply are not buying. Certified creeper quotes are reportedly 5 to 8 ¢/lb higher.
The wholesale 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 55-60 ¢/lb range. Meadow brome grass seed quotes continue to be strong, with grower price quotes in the $1.50-$1.60/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 $1.00 to $1.20/lb range. Common VNS (variety not stated) alfalfa seed can be 20 to 30 ¢/lb higher, depending on the variety initially grown. Alsike clover quotes have softened to the 35-40 ¢/lb range. Red clover quotes have fallen to the 80 ¢ to $1.00 /lb range. Sweet clover quotes are similar to alsike quotes, 35 to 40 ¢/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. It will take time to chew through warehouse inventories and only if, demand starts to pick up. Don’t be surprised if seed storage becomes widespread. Good thing our other grain and oilseed crop prices have helped to pay the bills and growers are not entirely relying on grass and legume seed income right now.
| 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 5-08 | 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 |
4-May | 40-45 | 50-55 | 45-50 | 55-60 | 150-160 | 160-170 | 40 | 45-55 | 100-125 | 80-100 | 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: May 5-09
Prepared by David Wong, Market Specialist, Ag-Info Centre, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development |
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