MARCH 2010 GRAIN NEWSLETTER

          This winter the snow and ice seem to be endless. It is making travel and even walk­ing treacherous. A thaw would be welcomed to melt the ice we seem to have everywhere. Farm grain movement has been almost zero since the first of the year due to plunging crop prices and poor weather and deep snow.   

             At our Garfield facility we have finished re­pairing the distributor and have installed new belts and cups and have increased the capac­ity of the legs We are also in the process of planning the installation of a new grain dryer in Garfield. We are putting in a 11,000 bushel wet holding bin and a super-b low profile grain dryer where the existing Drymor dryer now sits. If anyone is interested in purchasing the 1980 drymor eagle model please call me at the Brandon elevator.

            The grain markets have been lower since the Jan 12th 2010 crop production report which showed record crops and production and also the huge crop projected to come out of South America. With increased corn stocks as shown by USDA there are plenty of acres to go around for this years crop and not much of an acreage battle with soybean ending stocks expected to rise and corn to stay about the same. The dollar and weather will determine crop prices going forward into spring.

            If you have grain on your farm that is wet, now is the time to move it before it deteriorates. Please call us before delivering wet grain so we can have a bin open for it. We now have the abil­ity to send you free text messages each day for grain prices through our DTN website. All you need to do is set up an account through the Pro­Ag website which can be done by clicking the request username-password icon and filling out the form and submitting the request. If you already have a username-password you can use that account for the texts. If you have any questions feel free to call me at 320-524-2285 and thanks for your patronage and have a safe spring season.