Feb. 3 - Closing Markets

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-> ONTARIO PORK REPORTS:
TOTAL SALES = 19,802
FOR A = 3 DAY TOTAL OF = 67,564
THAT'S = down 2,572 FROM LAST WEEK.
THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS = $1.30/kilogram
THAT'S steady
THE U-S NATIONAL COST PRICE = $66.27 U-S, DRESSED WEIGHT
That's down 67 cents
FORWARD CONTRACT PRICE FOR May-June DELIVERY IS $146.73
WHICH IS up $1.56
ESTIMATED SALES FOR Wednesday = 28,000
AT = $1.24/kilogram

-> ON THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE:

CORN FUTURES:
March down 12 at 3.53
May down 11 and a half at 3.64 and a half

SOYBEAN FUTURES:
March down 17 and a half at 9.08
May down 17 and a half at 9.19

WHEAT FUTURES:
March down 18 and a quarter at 4.69
May down 18 at 4.83 and a half

-> CLOSING LOCAL GRAIN PRICES FROM SNOBELIN FARMS:

Note there's a basis change for new soys.

09 CROP CORN = down 12 at 3.43/BU
2010 CROP CORN = down 11 at 3.85/BU
2011 CROP CORN = down 12 at 4.02/BU

09 CROP SOYS = down 18 at 9.08/BU
2010 CROP SOYS = down 20 at 8.72/BU
2011 CROP SOYS = down 20 at 8.59/BU

09 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = down 18 at 3.84/BU
2010 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = down 17 at 4.16/BU
2011 CROP SOFT RED WINTER WHEAT = down 13 at 4.94/BU

Farmers Cautioned On Using Crop Residues For Energy

There's a growing interest in using crop residues to get energy from agriculture.
U-S-D-A researcher Jane Johnson is looking at ways to best use residues without losing soil structure or nutrients.
She says a lot of factors come into play.

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Johnson says different parts of the corn stalk have different types of nutrients - so harvesting part of the stalk might be the answer.
She says corn cobs don't have a lot of nutrient but they should be ideally suited for ethanol or gasification.
She says one rule of thumb regarding erosion is to leave 30 per cent.

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Johnson says in some cases that 30 per cent only gives imperfect erosion control as well.
She says when the residues are harvested it should be done sparingly.

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Johnson also says the types of tillage and heavy use of cover crops can help return organic matter to the soils.

Local Food Movement Growing In Owen Sound

The local food movement is gaining ground in Owen Sound.
The 'Around the Sound' market was on 1st Avenue West.
But Owner/operator Anne Findlay-Stewart says she needed more space so she's moved to 6th Street East.
'Around the Sound' sells locally produced fruits, vegetables, baked goods and some prepared foods.
Findlay- Stewart says people can know they're getting good wholesome food...

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Findlay-Stewart says she tries to be fair to producers so customers might pay a premium...

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Findlay-Stewart says with the extra space she now has in Owen Sound, she plans to put in a community kitchen for cooking classes and demonstrations.

More Greenhouse Products For Plant Products Inc.

A major Canadian greenhouse and nursery supply company has an expanded agreement to distribute Syngenta Canada products.
Plant Products will now be supplying Avid, Bonzi and Endeavor.
Spokesman Robert Caucci says that gives Plant Products a complete line of Syngenta brand plant protection products for it's customers.
Plant Products started out supplying greenhouse vegetable and ornamental growers.
It now markets a full range of horticultural products across Canada.

U-S Budget Has Ag Program Cuts

U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is trying to sell the proposed new American budget to that country's farmers.
It looks like a tough sell with a 388 million dollar cut in farm commodity support programs.
But Vilsack says that's not the whole story.

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Vilsack says the proposed new U-S budget also includes food safety investments that could help American farmers.

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The proposed U-S budget also includes rules designed to better target payments to those farmers most in need.
That's the budget proposed by President Obama.
It still requires Congressional approval.