Feb. 1 - Closing Markets

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-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:
TOTAL SALES = 27,927
THAT'S = down 1,025 FROM LAST WEEK.
THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS = $1.31/kilogram
THAT'S up 1 cent
THE U-S NATIONAL COST PRICE = $67.90 U-S, DRESSED WEIGHT
That's down 67 cents
FORWARD CONTRACT PRICE FOR May-June DELIVERY IS $148.83
WHICH IS down $2.33
ESTIMATED SALES FOR Tuesday = 19,500
AT = 1.31

-> ON THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE:

CORN FUTURES:
March up 2 and a half at 3.59
May up 2 and a half at 3.70 and a quarter

SOYBEAN FUTURES:
March down 4 and a quarter at 9.09 and a half
May down 4 at 9.20 and a half

WHEAT FUTURES:
March up a half at 4.74 and a half
May up 1 and a quarter at 4.89 and a half

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

Note there's a basis change to old soys and 2011 soys and to 2009 soft red winter wheat.

09 CROP CORN = up 2 at 3.44/BU
2010 CROP CORN = up 4 at 3.85/BU
2011 CROP CORN = up 5 at 4.04/BU

09 CROP SOYS = up 1 at 9.15/BU
2010 CROP SOYS = down 2 at 8.84/BU
2011 CROP SOYS = up 1 at 8.69/BU

09 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 6 at 3.90/BU
2010 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 2 at 4.22/BU
2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = up 5 at 4.89/BU

Schlegal Says Lack Of Government Support Hurts Ontario Hog Industry

A former president of the Canadian Pork Council says the Provincial and federal governments have to start doing more to support Ontario Pork Producers.
Clare Schlegal says Ontario producers don't get the kind of support that Quebec producers or American producers enjoy..

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Schlegal says Quebec producers have a definite advantage over Ontario producers.
But he also says the federal government has to recognize that Ontario producers are also competing against American producers ...

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Schlegel says the current pork industry crisis has been made even more difficult by the lack of support they get from the federal and provincial governments.

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Schlegal says provincial politicians have to decide if they want the value-added meat industry in Ontario or not.
And he says federal politicians have to do something about the volatility of the Canadian dollar to level the playing field with American producers.

Final Corn, Wheat and Soybean Meetings Wrap Up

It's the end of one era and the beginning of another for grain farmers over the past few weeks.
The corn, wheat and soybean producer boards held their final annual district meetings and the first meeting of their new Grain Farmers of Ontario organisation.
Barry Senft is the Chief Executive Officer of the GFO.
He says a large part of the process was electing new directors.

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Chatham-Kent and Lambton were the last counties to complete the change-over to the new Grain Farmers of Ontario organisation.
Senft says the process of merging the Corn, Wheat and Soybean growers at the local and provincial level has been talked about for quite a while.

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Senft says he's been attending meetings across the province updating farmers on the process and getting their input.

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Farmers who like the idea of the merged boards are hoping the new group will have greater ability to reach political and service goals for it's members.
They also suggest that with fewer farmers it should be easier to fill roles on one board instead of three.

O-F-A Says Mitchell Has Several Years Of Training

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture says Carol Mitchell has undergone several years of training for her new job as provincial agriculture minister.
Spokesman Keith Currie says that training has been conducted by some seasoned fedration people at the grassroots level in Huron and Bruce Counties.

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But Currie points out the Federation's dealings with government aren't limited to just the Ministry of Agriculture.

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Currie says the O-F-A also has regular dealings with the Ministries of Energy and Infrastructure, Transportation, Environment and Municipal Affairs and Housing.
He says all of those ministries have an influence on the long-term profitability of the Ontario farm sector.

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Shared Exec. Director Part Of AgCare/OFAC Pilot Project

AGCare and OFAC are going to share one Executive Director as part of a pilot project.
OFAC's Crystal Mackay will serve as Executive Director for both groups for the year.
She replaces Jackie Fraser while Fraser is on maternity leave.
OFAC Chair John Maaskant says it's a good pilot project to see if the two groups can become more efficient.
Both grouops focus on communication initiatives and provide leadership on issues identified by their members.
OFAC is the voice for animal agriculture.
AGCare is the voice of Ontario's crop and horticulture farmers on environmental issues.

Green Party Leader Calls For Finance Changes For New Farmers

The leader of the Ontario Green Party says finance changes are needed to allow new farmers to get into the business.
Mike Shreiner says there are sones and daughters who want to take over the family farm bu they need help with land costs.

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Shreiner suggests an arragement like a reverse mortage is one way to get around the financing hurdle.
He says efforts to bring a new generation of farmers into the business are hampered because existing farmers have their retirement locked up in the equity of their land.

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Shreiner says people with an urban background are also interested in farming and need help with financing and skills for those operations.