Prices for Ontario, Prairie organic grains relatively steady
Published May 2, 2024 on OrganicBiz
By Glen Hallick
With organic farmers in Canada on the cusp of spring planting, prices for their cereals, oilseeds and pulses remained pretty much at a standstill.
Harro Wehrmann of Wehrmann Grain and Seed Ltd. in Ripley, Ont. explained why prices haven’t moved much.
“We have to wait on what the economy is doing first,” he stated, noting the organic market is very flat.
While a lull in the Canadian economy has kept organic grain prices from climbing upward, declines in conventional prices have weighed on values.
“Some specialty crops are going strong,” said Wehrmann, pointing to ancient grains and sunflowers as examples. “But they are few and far in between.”
Otherwise, he said Ontario prices for organic corn, soybeans, soft wheat, and feed wheat “are nothing to write home about.”
Wehrmann said organic soybeans remained between C$23 to C$26 per bushel, with soft red winter wheat fetching C$11.50 to C$14, while feed wheat held at C$13.25 to C$17.
“Mind you the growing season is just starting, so who knows what’s going to happen this year,” stated Wehrmann.
“Some specialty crops are going strong, but they are few and far in between.” – Harro Wehrmann
To Jason Breault of RW Organics in Mossbank, Sask. there’s more to organic prices than what meets the eye.
“There’s so much other world stuff that’s hurting the prices than what’s happening here,” he said.
But Breault cautioned dry conditions, such as those in Saskatchewan, could evolve into a major factor if there aren’t sufficient and timely rains come summer.
He said some conventional farmers started seeding in his area, while organic producers will wait a little bit longer before going into their fields.
Scott Shiels of Grain Millers Canada in Yorkton, Sask. said organic farmers as well as their conventional counterparts need to be patient when it comes to the weather.
Shiels noted there hasn’t been much price movement for organic brown flax, with old crop bids around C$43 per bushel and new crop about the same price. He said yellow flax can be purchased for C$50/bu.
While Shields said old crop organic oats are about C$8/bu. higher prices can be obtained.
“We’ve heard there are higher bids out there but…we heard the delivery is way out in August. Nobody wants to take the chance on waiting,” he commented.
Overall, Shiels doesn’t foresee much price movement at this time.
“We are probably near the lows. We may not get a lot of higher, but we should stay at least at these prices from here on out,” he explained.
More Crops