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Feed Price Summary January 2013

Added January 22, 2013.

Feed Price Update: January 5th 2013
National Organic Grain and Feedstuffs Report

The following information is provided by the USDA livestock and Grain Market News who produce one national report.

Trading in organic grain and feedstuffs has been slower with prices steady to weak. New crop harvest has finished for organic farmers and yields have been described as "what you would expect" for drought ravaged areas, and fair to good yields for less stricken areas. However, some areas in the Upper Midwest that received moisture during the critical growing period produced average yields. Prices on soybeans are decreasing as new supplies become available but asking prices remain higher than mills are willing to pay at this time. While soybean prices have lowered slightly, some buyers and farmers continue to import grains from overseas due to prices and availability. Barley trade has not been in the forefront of recent trading, due largely to the bulk of that commodity being imported from Canada, South America, and some reports say China.

Feed grade wheat was higher as a result of livestock producers feeding more wheat than anticipated earlier this year due to high corn prices. Feed wheat remains in the area of $2.00 over the protein point in all regions this period.

Alfalfa hay in California: Supreme quality is $280.00; Good/Premium is $270.00, and Fair grade is $240.00. Oregon alfalfa: Good quality has been traded at $265.00. All hay prices are reported on a per ton bases. Quality hay is difficult to find in the northeast.

Prices negotiated on the spot market, freight on buyer (trucking paid by buyer = FOB) the farm. Prices are quoted based upon $/bushel, except soybean meal ($/ton and FOB the mill) and roasted soybeans, $/ton. Most prices are based on trading in the Midwest, so delivery to other parts of the country has to be added. Hay is reported FOB the stack or barn unless otherwise noted.

Jan 2013

Dec 2012

Nov 2012

Oct 2012

4th qtr. 12

Dec 2011

Feed Grade Corn

14.38

14.30

15.02

14.76

16.16

12.02

Food Grade Soybeans

28.71

28.75

29.89

Feed Grade Soybeans

26.57

28.25

26.73

27.77

28.86

20

Feed Grade Oats

6.75

4.4

5.83

5.33

5.16

5.74

Feed Grade Barley

11

11.5

8.78

Food Grade Wheat

13.72

Feed Grade Wheat

12.45

13

12.15

12.13

10.63

9.78

Soybean meal

1135/ton

1,175/ton

$1,175/ton

$1,164/ton

$1,242/ton

858/ton

Feed Grade Peas

11.83

Organic Alfalfa - Premium

280/ton

300/ton

Organic Alfalfa – Good

265/ton

215/ton

Organic Grass Hay

240/ton

The Farm Price Barometer below is compiled by the National Farmers Union and highlights the failure of price to farmers and growers increasing with comparable increase in inputs and comparable prices. Organic prices for grain are comparable to parity or higher which reflects the true costs for grain farmers. Unfortunately the parity price for organic dairy and livestock does not reflect parity, even using non-organic prices with a parity price of $52 per cwt for non-organic milk and an average organic price of approximately $30/cwt.


Farm Price Barometer, December 2012

Current Parity % of
Commodity Price Price Parity
Crops
Barley (bushel).................6.50..........12.60.........49
Corn (bushel)...................6.71..........12.00.........58
Cotton, Upland (lb) ........0.688...........2.08..........33
Flaxseed (bushel)............14.00.........31.80.........45
Oats (bushel)...................3.70...........7.60..........50
Peanuts (lb)....................0.330.........0.751.........46
Rice (cwt).......................14.70..........42.20.........35
Sorghum Grain (cwt).......12.30.........21.10.........58
Soybeans (bushel)...........13.80.........28.90........51
Wheat (bushel).................8.42........18.30.........46

Livestock
Cattle (cwt)...................123.00........292.00........43
Hogs (cwt)......................62.10.........160.00.......39

Dairy/Poultry
Eggs, (dozen)..................1.19...........2.63..........35
Milk, All (cwt).................21.10..........52.00..........39

January 22, 2013_CornpriceSpread1

January 22, 2013_Soybeanspricespread2

January 22, 2013_CornandSoycombined3

January 22, 2013Feedpercow4


Courtesy of Bob Parsons, University of Vermont

January 22, 2013_GraonOFARM5

February 11, 2013percentgrainprice51

Courtesy of Green Mountain Feeds, University of Vermont and Producers
Current market price for organic dry shelled corn is between $550-650/ton, $620 for corn meal in NY, and organic raw soybeans are between $950-1,050/ ton. Second cut hay is selling for around $200-250/ton and high quality alfalfa hay at $450/ton at the farm.

Located below are the links to latest organic price reports.
National Hay, Feed & Seed Weekly Summary http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lswfeedseed.pdf
Bi weekly National Organic Grains and Feedstuffs: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lsbnof.pdf