Alberta Wheat Commission launches project aimed at improving market transparency and efficiency

[gustgd]

(Calgary, Alberta) January 28, 2015 – The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) is pleased to announce the launch of a project that will significantly improve farmers’ ability to make well-informed marketing decisions and maximize the value of their crops.

http://www.albertawheat.com/alberta-wheat-commission-launches-project-aimed-at-improving-market-transparency-and-efficiency/

[gustgd]

http://www.pdqinfo.ca/price

Take a look and provide comment

[agstar77]

I thought you did that when you got rid of the CWB. Grain companies are not filling the utopian dream?

[agstar77]

I thought you did that when you got rid of the CWB. Grain companies are not filling the utopian dream?

[CptnObvious]

PDQ is close, or - $2/t. But then we're missing out on over $100/t because the graincos are now free to rip us off as they wish, aren't they?

[katoe]

What a joke!

[bucket]

Depape Just got his retirement fund handed to him. Nice a guy that looks at basis the way he does.

Now he has to explain fx in the basis and why the canadian exchanges are not being used.

Won't likely be posting here for a while with that political payback.

[MBgrower]

I didnt check the graico bids today. Dollar way down today, did wheat basis improve as a result?

[MBgrower]

I didnt check the graico bids today. Dollar way down today, did wheat basis improve as a result?

[SASKFARMER3]

Now that's Funny!

[jdepape]

Lots yet to do - just a test site so far.

Good news for you bucket - we plan to have basis presented any way you want it!

[LWeber]

Integrity should be discussed on that platform.

How are MGEX futures used as a price discovery mechanism in U.S. dollars and then used to determine prices in Canadian?

How farmers are duped into believing -5.00 under is a good wheat basis when they are still comparing it to CWB basis levels of past. And then have Farmco justify it.

How do pipeline margins increase $75.00 to $100.00 a tonne and no one said it is bullshit. That's ethical.

Welcome to Canada - where a freefall in the CAD is hidden in the basis - margins increase and the ostrich has his head in the sand. This is not Rhodes Scholar material. The Government had how many years in opposition to plan and get this right? How many years in minority status?

The U.S. system works because the Government is involved. The USDA posts daily prices and daily basis levels. No one questions their price reporting - their S&D's yes - prices - only if a mistake is made and that is once a year.

How can a company suggest that targets outside their spot bids are achievable such as the one below? Where is the money coming from?

Post a price $5.28 to $5.78 - suggest $6.25 may be attainable and watch the GPO's roll in.

______________________________________

Date:01-28-2015 9:55 AM (GMT-06:00)
Subject: Jan 28/15 P&H Moose Jaw Morning Bid Prices

We will look seriously at $6.25 targets on 1 CWRS 13.5

Delivery 1 CWRS 13.5
Jan $5.28
Feb $5.42
March $5.73
April $5.77
May $5.78
June $5.78
July $5.78
August $5.65
Sept $5.65
Oct $5.84
Nov $5.91
Dec $5.91
_______________________________________

I've said it publicly and will state it again. The planning capacity of this Minister should be compared to Hazen Argue's tenure as Ag Minister. Now there is a legacy to aspire to.

There is a quote that a Conservative is really a Liberal in a hurry ...

Hurry did not have to mean stupid.

Stupid is watching the raping and pillaging that has occurred at farmer's expense...and justify it with increased risks, demurrage, FX ...blah blah blah.

Winners blame themselves - losers blame the system.

Marketing Freedom should have come with a Get Out of Jail Free card - for farmers - not the trade.

[bucket]

Depape

Then look at the US. In the northern tier states they quote mpls futures and minus a basis.

It doesn't have to be recalculated.

So take mpls futures convert to cdn and minus the posted basis.

Simple Enough?

Graincos and farmco don't want to do that because the truth is the basis is still minus 2 bucks cdn per bushel. Off mpls futures.

We don't want to judge off export prices which is what our freight rates are prepaid to get our grain to the west coast. And then calculate the basis because then it's minus 4 bucks cdn per bushel.

You should be heading to Mexico - with that senator patronage dividend?

[bucket]

Depape

There should be only one way to calculate basis. And the components of basis should be spelled out clearly.


If you are not striving for that you really are not looking for transparency.


Your comments indicate you are striving for more confusion.

Why?

[btjadenlepp]

With all due respect to the parties involved, I'm livid that farmer checkoffs and taxpayer money are being spent on this initiative.

We have spent the last 11 years at FarmLink building systems and relationships, re-investing hard-earned revenues from the farmers who believed in our vision, to make sure we always know where the best bids are.

We have overcome the issues related to lack of price transparency thanks to private investment made by ourselves and our clients. Nobody in my organization struggles to know what crops are worth, because we work as a team on collaborative, positive and good-faith communications with buyers.

And of course it's not just us. There are a growing number of private companies working very hard on innovative solutions to overcome the lack of price transparency. It's backwards to think that a public web site can replicate the innovative work of FarmLink and our competitors.

To the farmers who approved this, my question is this. What do you want the government to do for you next, set up a monopoly maybe? Sure it takes time to call around and work a deal when you sell your grain, so does every other aspect of farming. Take some ownership of your marketing and accept that you are accountable for how the decisions pan out.

www.farmlinksolutions.ca