Firmer Week in Birdseeds

VANCOUVER - Nov 19/11 - SNS -- North American birdseed ingredient markets finished the week's trading on a generally firmer note despite relatively light consumer buying interest.

The U.S. based National Sunflower Association noted, "Birdseed demand continues to dominate the domestic sunflower market. Historically, the bird food market is rather 'thin' and does not last through harvest. But the sharp reduction in planted 2011 acres has made a difference this year.

"There are a number of anomalies in the overall markets this season. There are reports of European and Brazilian feed wheat coming into the east coast of this country. . . . Some crops that are attempting to compete against corn for acres are simply pricing themselves out of the market if supplies are available for import.

"USDA reported last week that total U.S. oilseed production declined a dramatic 10 percent from 2010. Word from Brazil and Argentina is that soybean acreage has likely peaked for the near term as farmers are switching some acres to corn. That is a market response due to more attractive prices and increasing ethanol demand. It is not likely that oilseeds will go away but corn is easily in the driver's seat at the present time."