Clovers
Prices are strong following two years of poor yields and dropping acreage. But if production picks up, low prices will follow. Markets are shrinking as more winter wheat growers in Ontario and the United States double-crop or seed early maturing spring wheat after harvest. Proprietary contracts provide some stability.
“The clover business is probably going to be very interesting,” said Don Pollock of Northstar Seeds. “In my mind, a contract would look rather enticing.”
Birdsfoot trefoil
Prices are down dramatically as farmers and dealers have about two years’ worth of supply in bins. Strong prices in 1997 spurred production in Ontario, the United States and Uruguay.
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Fescues
The market is depressed. Alberta growers have made tall fescue a major forage seed crop in the past few years. Manitoba growers are multiplying some certified varieties of meadow fescue for European buyers.
Crested wheatgrass
Demand depends entirely on the number of forest fires, since the seed is mainly sold to reclaim land afterwards. But the market has stayed strong because growers haven’t overproduced.
Meadow brome
Farmers have been switching from smooth brome to meadow brome because of high prices. Acreage and crop conditions during the past two years look promising, said Brian Johnson of S.S. Johnson Seeds, especially for farmers who have fields free of quackgrass and wild oats.
Annual ryegrass
European buyers are interested in what Manitoba farmers have grown in the past few years. Europe has too much supply, but Johnson noted the crop is annual rather than perennial. Some farmers have had yields of 1,800 pounds per acre. Growers and researchers still need to solve the wild oats problem.
Turf grasses
Canada imports huge amounts of lawn seed. Johnson said farmers can never grow enough bluegrass to meet domestic needs. This seed is grown mainly on contract. Demand tends to increase when the housing market is strong. U.S. growers have oversupplied the market, and prices are trading similar to fescues, and below.
