Grain Market Update

Added May 7, 2009

May is when we move into planting season and assessment of any winter kill which will affect any projections for this year’s harvest. There appears to be a sufficient supply of seed corn, with untreated seed available where certified seed is not obtainable. The decrease in demand for organic
products has created a nearly inactive organic grain market, especially with some growers still looking for higher prices. The drop in price in the Midwest is starting to show through in feed prices in the northeast with a slight drop in prices per ton for 16% grain and a drop in the use of grain
because of the lowering in pay price. There is also an increased availability of both grain and hay on the market in the northeast. Hay prices have started to weaken for alfalfa with RFQ values ranging from 170 to 190 with prices from $165 to $175 per ton out of the Midwest.

Corn Price Update

Upper Midwest (Des Moines, IA)
5/2/09

Compared to two weeks ago, organic grain and feedstuff prices were mostly steady on light demand and offerings with market activity being reported as slightly better than the last reporting period. Planting progress on conventional corn has fallen behind in some states. According to the USDA, as of May 3, only 5 percent of the corn crop was planted in Illinois. This is down from the 5 year average of 66 percent. North Dakota's corn planting progress was pegged at zero due to heavy rainfall. This compares to the 5 year average of 29 percent. Already some talk of conventional producers switching from corn to other small grains. This will impact organic plantings as well. Hay prices have declined in recent weeks as the volume of premium quality hay has become limited.

All prices FOB price per bushel except where stated (trucking cost needs to be added)

	5/2/09	Mar 2009	Feb 09	1st  qtr 09	March  2008
Feed Grade Corn	7.48	7.59	8.17	8.16	10.37
Food Grade Soybeans	19.97	20.19		21.04	29.25
Feed Grade Soybeans	17.70	17.71	18.20	18.00	25.33
Feed Grade Oats	4.14	4.26	4.67	4.45	5.75
Feed Grade Barley	6.06	7.27	7.86	7.55	8.05
Food Grade Wheat		9.81		10.14	16.98
Feed Grade Wheat	6.48	7.62	7.62	7.89	11.00
Feed Grade Rye					9.00
Feed Grade Peas			11.91	11.91
Feed Grad Golden Flax
Organic Alfalfa - Premium	155-160/ton
Organic Alfalfa – Good			180-185/ton
Organic Alfalfa – Utility			160-170/ton

Eastern Cornbelt (Springfield, IL)
4.18.09
Compared to two weeks ago, organic grain and feedstuff prices were steady.  Demand was light for moderate offerings.  Skepticism and uncertainty in the U.S. economy have created a decrease in consumer interest which lowered the overall demand of organic products. The decrease in demand for organic products has created a nearly inactive organic grain market.

All prices FOB price per bushel except where stated (trucking cost needs to be added)

	4/18/09	Mar 09	Feb 09	Jan 09	1st qtr 09	March 2008
Feed Grade Corn	8.31	8.57	8.94	9.31	8.80	10.27
Food Grade Wheat		10.25			10.25	14.50
Feed Grade Wheat	7.25	7.82	7.75	8.12	7.94
Feed Grade Barley		7.23	7.95	8.40	7.62
Feed Grade Soybeans	18.80	20.64	20.34	20.78	21.38	26.21
Soybean meal/ton			880/ton		880/ton	1106/ton
Feed Grade Oats		5.21	5.25	5.16	5.24	5.32
Organic Alfalfa – Good
Organic Grass Hay – Utility

Northeast Organic grain price 2005-2009

Year	12% CP Grain	16% CP Grain	18% CP Grain
2005	$                   310	$                     330	$                   349
2006	$                   350	$                     380	$                   395
2007	$                   360	$                     393	$                   412
2008	$                   547	$                     588	$                   608
2009	$                   525	$                     538	$                   565
% increase 2005-2009	73.22%	78.18%	74.21%

Located below are the links to latest organic price reports.
Upper Midwest Organic Grain and Feedstuff  http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/nw_gr113.txt
Eastern Corn Belt Organic Grain Feedstuff  http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/gx_gr120.txt
National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary  http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lswfeedseed.pdf