| | 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 expected, with retail season basically over for the spring, and grass and legume seed harvest a few weeks away yet, the grass and legume seed sector has become more “dead” than ever. Bulk seed movement remains hand to mouth, and inventories remain good.
Data from Europe shows they had an above average grass and legume seed production year in 2009, further compounding the more than adequate seed inventory picture world wide. Reports out of Oregon are indicating a very good crop about to come off, although it’s about a week later than normal. Good thing their acres are down, or this surplus situation could continue longer than expected.
In light of this, there’s not much new to report on the price side.
Creeping red fescue quotes are still boggled down in the 35 to 38 ¢/lb range, with few sales and many companies not buying. Fall prices show no change from these spring price quotes. The Peace regions’ fescue crop looks good right now, but acres will be down again, and there’s still a ways to go before it’s in the bin.
For the forage grass seeds, smooth brome is around still down in the 35 – 40 ¢/lb, with certified 5 to 10 ¢/lb higher. Meadow brome quotes are being thrown around anywhere’s from 70¢ to $1.00 /lb. Common Timothy seed quotes remain in the 28-30 ¢/lb range, with Certified Climax around 40 ¢/lb. But remember, at this time of year, with new production unknown, and with no one wanting to buy and carry inventory, few concrete prices are available.
Alfalfa quotes remain firm in the $1.25 to $1.45/lb range. It’s still early and a big unknown as to how the excessive moisture in Saskatchewan and Manitoba will affect this year’s Canadian alfalfa seed crop. Red and alsike seed quotes are still marred at 50 – 60 ¢/lb for red, and 35 to 45 ¢/lb for alsike, while sweet clover quotes are between 30 and 40 ¢/lb.
In conclusion, no one is expecting any price movement now, barring a major weather disaster in one of the major grass/legume growing regions in Canada, the USA or Denmark.
 | 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 |
| Com #1 | Cert #1 | Com #1 | Cert #1 | Com #1 | Cert #1 | Com #1 | Cert #1 | Com #1 | Com #1 | Com #1 | Com #1 |
5-Jan | 40 | 45 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 80-120 | 120-140 | 28-30 | 40 | 110-145 | 50-70 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
2-Feb | 35-40 | 40-45 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 70-110 | 120-130 | 25-30 | 40 | 115-140 | 50-70 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
2-Mar | 35-40 | 40-45 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 70-110 | 120-130 | 25-30 | 40 | 125-140 | 50-70 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
7-Apr | 35-40 | 40-42 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 70-110 | 120-130 | 25-30 | 40 | 120-145 | 50-70 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
4-May | 35-38 | 40-42 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 70-100 | 100-120 | 25-30 | 40 | 120-145 | 50-65 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
31-May | 35-38 | 40-42 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 70-100 | 100-120 | 25-30 | 40 | 120-145 | 50-65 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
5-Jul | 35-38 | 40-42 | 35-40 | 40-45 | 70-100 | 100-120 | 25-30 | 40 | 120-145 | 50-65 | 35-45 | 30-40 |
| Prices are quotes only, until actual orders come in, that's when firm pricing is established |
| - prices in ¢/lb, last updated July 7-2010 |
Prepared by David Wong, Market Specialist, Ag-Info Centre, Alberta Agriculture & Rural Development
310-FARM (3276) |
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