Ontario planting intentions

[dalek]

Just heard yesterday that the acreage for winter wheat in Ontario is up 90% over last year, to 1.1 million acres. Corn next year is expected to be down 6%, soybeans down 20%

[charliep]

How good a conditions did the winter wheat go in this fall? What are the reasons for the big shift in acres? How much difference is there in terms of variable costs/gross margin for wheat, corn and soybeans?

[dalek]

Most of it went in right on time and in great shape. The reason is price, plain and the fact that winter wheat hardly costs a thing to grow compared to corn or soy.

[TOM4CWB]

Dalek,

Do you think marketing choice with the OWPMB, and good pricing options, like the minimum price offered for fall 2003 by OWPMB, have encouraged this shift?

[eatmorewheat]

A voluntary market in Ontario for next year has had a large impact on the big acreage increase.

Ontario farmers have a CHOICE for the first time in 30 years of who they sell their wheat to.

Western farmers should consider selling their wheat in Ontario next year. Or will the oppressive CWB put the mounties on the TransCanada Highway at the Ontario border.

Free wheat in the west

[dalek]

Tom, definitely. From what I hear the options have been so popular that OWPMB is months behind processing the paperwork