If you have the time and the interest go back on my blog to December 4, 2010 and to February 15, 2011 and look at the change in the view.
We’ve had a busy week here – lots of things are happening. Ryan’s crew finished putting a new roof on pen #7 (a twenty year old pen) and the day he finished Brian K’s crew filled up #7 with birds (though in the early season like now, Brian only 1/2 fills the pens). Ryan’s crew is now replacing the roof on #7 and on June 20th Brian will put birds into #5.
We had three straight days of 90+ degree days, and the effect on our breeders was dramatic. Fortunately our crew was prepared and began supplemental watering several days before the heat arrived – so that when it did get so hot, our birds knew to go to the water pans. Our production dropped from just over 15,000 eggs a day to 12,000 eggs a day – but considering the heat – we did well. We saw that 65 degree weather was on the way – and we know enough that when you go from 90+ to 65 the front will be a strong one and it was. This past Wednesday night we got 2-1/2″ of rain and 80 mph winds. Unfortunately we lost some birds, but I think our guys did everything they could to prevent losses. Actually I think we were lucky to do so well, there was a tornado just north of here – glad it stayed away from us.
My thought is the pheasant chick market in July will be strong, as people so far have cut back on the number of birds they are raising this year, and I think people will add on in July and raise a few more. On the other hand corn continues to be $7.00+ a bushel and that translates into $330/ton grower. I think many raisers will be hesitant to raise more birds with costs that high.
To put the cost of feed into perspective, last year and again this year we expect to purchase 3,500 tons of pelleted pheasant feed. As of today I would conservatively estimate that feed cost is up $80/ton. If feed prices hold at their current level, and if we had not booked any feed – but were riding the spot market – our expense for feed for 2011 vs 2010 would be up $280,000 !!!!
Sometimes I just almost want to avoid looking at the cash flow this time of the year, because the money always flows out more quickly this time of year than it comes in. I’m looking forward to seeing the adult birds start leaving the farm in a few months.
