Brad Hanmer sat and listened while a commodity broker, a trader and an analyst told him and fellow farmers how a variety of market factors would influence their pulse seeding decisions.
The experts talked about world supply and demand, interest rates, currency issues and soil moisture all affecting farmers’ seeding intentions.
They told producers how the Muslim world’s Ramadan window was closing for Canada due to timing issues, how 25 percent of the grain they ship will be in containers by 2005 and how drastic swings in what they grow is threatening Canada’s reputation as a consistent and reliable exporter.
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Hanmer, a young farmer from Govan, Sask., found the presentations interesting and insightful but he said many producers will rely on more tangible factors for their seeding signals.
“The weather is going to determine a lot between now and May 1,” he said.
Practical realities also weigh heavily. For many producers, the seeding decision comes down to what they can grow best on their farms and what crops fit into their rotations.
“We can’t grow poplar trees to tobacco. There’s only so many tools in our box that we’ve got.”
The plan for his farm includes heavy doses of canola and pulses, a decision driven more by what’s unprofitable than anything else.
“The cereal market is just such a dog right now,” said Hanmer. “Unfortunately cereals have been so lacklustre for us that we’re putting so much pressure on stuff like our pulses and our oilseeds.”
