During busy season for everyone, J-MAS uses Texting to communicate Sales as well as Marketing or Agronomy Notes. You can find the full versions here.
J-NOTE – Durum Trading Network 6:39pm September 22nd, 2014
The Gist: Finding Blending Opportunities to minimize Grade Risk on Wide Grade Spreads.
I’m sure everyone knows how wide spreads are between #2 and #3 Durum right now; and elevators are getting tougher on grade as this year’s Grading Factors become known. Your grades may be … for full text click here.
J-Sales – Pulse Plan 9:38am September 22nd, 2014
The Gist: Sales planning for Pulses as we get into Chickpeas harvest and Lentil rally.
Chickpea – quality concerns here and lighter crop in India leave upside room once Russia blows theirs out. Start picking at sales (20-40%) as you know your quality & size around 22-26c.
Looking to move bulk in Nov-Jan but beware how illiquid Chickpea market can be – though should not … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Durum Plans & Johnston Sign-Up 4:38pm September 19th, 2014
The Gist: Sales planning for Durum given more insight into Grade specs & spreads and ways to capture the higher values of quality Durum outside our local area.
Canola now too low (sub-$8.50 so we are not looking to move past 50% – though we aren’t so Bullish to be expecting $10 either) and Lentil has too much upside given what we know about the Large Green … for full text click here.
J-SALES – Sales Position Updates & New Sales 3:31pm September 18th, 2014
The Gist: Moving along some Sales positions on further Yield Surprises to the upside.
A couple good harvest days in a row finally has given us more insight into yield and quality. AgCanada and USDA reports this week, plus more action in Green lentil markets – so have some new sales … for full text click here.
J-SALES – Lentil Marketing Positions 8:53am September 11th, 2014
The Gist: Setting up the Lentil sales plan given the current rally in Large Green Lentils.
We recommended carrying over 60% of last years Green Lentils and are hoping we got a decent amount of this year’s into a two. 2’s traded 33c in our area … for full text click here.
J-SALES – Durum Spreads 4:37pm September 5th, 2014
The Gist: With Frost, and more Rain, #1AD not too likely – ideas to capture spread move.
A few elevators have widened out their spreads today. I believe they are overdoing what they should have done better last year but there … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – First Frost Threat 6:19pm September 1st, 2014
The Gist: 2nd Week Sept Frost threat – Next Phase for Chickpea Green-Count management.
I spoke with Lerner today about first frost given the recent notes about Frost potential for Wed-Fri to the West and North of us.
He is becoming very concerned about next week for our area. One model shows potential for a general frost on the 10th and … for full text click here.
J-SALES – Lentil & Canola Sales 12:40pm August 28th, 2014
The Gist: Moving sales on weak Canola tone and Yield upside surprises in Canola and Lentil.
We are seeing yield bumps over expectation on both Canola and Lentils this week.
I would rate Canola as bumping a solid … for full text click here.
J-SALES – StatsCan Production Supportive 12:42pm August 21st, 2014
The Gist: Moving sales on weak Canola tone and Yield upside surprises in Canola and Lentil.
Brighter news in today’s StatCan for all crops. No surprises, but our key crops were all on the low end of estimates for acres and production.
With an ugly harvest ahead and likely a normal frost, we are … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Lentil Quality Woes 12:20pm August 21st, 2014
The Gist: Surprise weekend rainfall likely to derail our Lentil Quality planning.
There are not going to be any easy answers for 2nd half of Lentil desiccation and harvest given weekend forecast. With a crystal ball, we should have Glyphed and Regloned the works 2 weeks ago and be taking them off now.
What we do now is … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Swath Timing 1:58pm August 15th, 2014
The Gist: No reason to be early with Swath Timing but limited value in pushing the line.
Lots of questions again this year about swathing too green and trying to be perfect.
Here is the time tested chart on losses. J-MAS get guys opening fields around 55% to be going 65%. Some want 75% and we will do that too but see less value in that extra 10% than between 55 and 65% and looking from the road can … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Weekend Rains 10:16am August 15th, 2014
The Gist: Stick-handling our Reglone apps and Harvest around rain events.
Weekend Rainfall expectations have now moved up to where we may see quality problems for ripe Lentils.
Push hard on any that are close to ready and … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Chickpea vs First Frost 1:34pm August 11th, 2014
The Gist: Management Plan for Chickpea Green Count basis Sep 14th first frost.
I talked to Lerner today and he believes there is a relatively good chance for frost between Sep10-20 and only a low chance Sep1-10. And there would be high risk after Sep20. He said that it will be cool but cloud cover will come with the early cool spells and insulate us.
Knowing this and the stages of our crop when it took rain we have some pretty specific ideas on when we should be … for full text click here.
J-SALES – Big Sales Day 2:42pm August 7th, 2014
The Gist: Selling Canola, Durum, Ethanol Wheat & Hard Red Spring.
The plethora of sales today is partly in response to the very unsold position J-MAS customers are – for some unknown reason. Hopefully seeing we are willing to go to 40% at these prices gets more of you off 0%.
40% is too aggressive only if you … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Canola & Glyphosate Drydown 2:08pm August 7th, 2014
The Gist: Straight-Cutting Canola setup with PreHarvest Glyphosate.
We are not blanket recommending Glyph on all Canola acres but we are promoting the use of it on acres likely to be straight-cut &/or bad Perennial weeds – especially if you forwent a 2nd Liberty app on this planned app.
Limited testing last year showed … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – J-MAS PreHarvest Primer 3:10pm August 4th, 2014
The Gist: Straight-Cutting Canola setup with PreHarvest Glyphosate.
– I need RSVP’s for Wednesday afternoon’s Meeting, Golf & BBQ.
– 1pm meeting, 2:30 Golf, 6pm BBQ/Social.
– we booked the Family reunion site at Thomson so … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Hoppers, Aphids vs Bullish Lentils 5:52pm July 16th, 2014
The Gist: We are VERY Bullish Lentil – Control pest like they’re 40c not 20c.
Hoppers are starting to move out of cut hay and could be moving out of ditches soon too.
We are EXTREMELY Bullish lentils and would like to see you treating them like a 40c crop instead of a 20c crop. That makes thresholds … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Midge Update 10:04am July 15th, 2014
The Gist: Midge near Threshold and have not yet peaked.
The good news so far is there seem to be less Midge than last year which indicates the 9 year cycle likely peaked last year. The bad news is there are still hotspots well over threshold and most areas are or will be right around threshold.
We are using Growing Degree Days to estimate that the midge haven’t yet peaked for this year and likely will in the next 2-5 days. Counts right now are below threshold in many areas outside of Mazenod which is just over threshold. Counts will almost certainly … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – Fusarium Rating Template 8:37am July 13th, 2014
The Gist: Definitely Areas and Farms where Fusarium Risk is elevated.
Based on conditions to date, current forecast and geography, I’m going to rate our average area Fusarium as a 2 by our 7-scale rating system (3.5 is tipping line for needing to take action) but with some caveats you should take note of for your specific situations.
+1 – If your within 40 miles of #1 highway – especially if east of #2.
+2 – if your within 20 miles
+2 – if you had Fusarium on your seed. +1 if under 1.5%.
+2 – if your in a 2 or 4 year rotation that has a cereal every second year. NOTE that some fields on your farm may fit this and others may not.
-1 – if you have been in a long term … for full text click here.
J-NOTE – WeatherStation – Disease Conditions 11:15am July 10th, 2014
The Gist: No Rain but High Humidity captured by WeatherStations – Disease Risk-On
Last night was the first pick-up by stations of a significant drop in humidity. The Leaf Wetness sensors are being moved today and have been reading too-low as plants have not been as dry as they were reporting. John Deere is slowly getting to understand our needs.
However, if they weren’t low before they look … for full text click here.
Direct to Customer Texts have been used throughout J-MAS’ 6 years of Service but are a featured communication tool during summers. Previous texts may be added here one day as we still have them all.