Every cloud has .........

So commodity prices are up and we're all feeling the pain - but not if you make agricultural machinery apparently!

An acquaintance is in "Tractors" and tells me that his firm (one of Europe's biggest) is increasing production by 25%. If you want a new piece of major farm kit for this autumn's harvest - forget it: next spring is earliest delivery. Same situation with other manufacturers also. He tells me that the farmers are making loads of money from the doubling of grain prices etc and they're spending it.

Can I ask what make of Tractors ?


Paul

0007 said:

So commodity prices are up and we're all feeling the pain - but not if you make agricultural machinery apparently!

My neighbour's in "Tractors" and tells me that his firm (one of Europe's biggest) is increasing production by 25%. If you want a new piece of major farm kit for this autumn's harvest - forget it: next spring is earliest delivery. Same situation with other manufacturers also. He tells me that the farmers are making loads of money from the doubling of grain prices etc and they're spending it.

Click to expand...

Yes,poor bastds ,and they'll probably just about get reinvested in time for multiple govts to step in and change their policies re subsidies , fuel etc etc. I seem to remember they did something similar in the early 70's ...LOL

0007,

Interesting. However, I doubt this is the case in the US. Owing to severe shortage of freight containers, grain and other commodities can't be exported. Correpsondingly, the shortage has increased significantly the cost of shipping. If this could be corrected, the US could increase its farm exports by 30%.

Is there any competition from Russia for agricultural machimery?

Is the Baltic International Freight Futures Exchange (BIFFEX)still going?

Grant.

Since the rest of the community is doing badly and the farming community is doing well, can they subsidise us for a change?

Trader333 said:

Can I ask what make of Tractors ?


Paul

Click to expand...

Massey-Ferguson AFAIK.

grantx said:

0007,

Interesting. However, I doubt this is the case in the US. Owing to severe shortage of freight containers, grain and other commodities can't be exported. Correpsondingly, the shortage has increased significantly the cost of shipping. If this could be corrected, the US could increase its farm exports by 30%.

Is there any competition from Russia for agricultural machimery?

Is the Baltic International Freight Futures Exchange (BIFFEX)still going?

Grant.

Click to expand...

Interesting points - the only thing i know about farming is that dependent where you are on the ladder you can vary from stinking rich to destitute - just as in trading .

Presumably, the Chinese aren't in to agriculture machinery for worldwide export due its bulk/weight/cost of shipping. (or is this not the case - don't they make just about everything else? - if they can crack transportation, then Henry Ford's descendants are gonna have sleepless nights?)

I've just bought a couple of 50w halogen lightbulbs (less than £2 each - I remember them being double that not so long ago) for her Ladyship's kitchen and noted that they were made in China. I remember that the Thorn lighting factory in Leicester has either closed or is doing so - what happens when the Chinese want proper wages for their work?

Paul,

Thinking of buying the missus one for Christmas?

0007,

"what happens when the Chinese want proper wages for their work?". They are getting higher and higher wages which is adding to the rising price of food (rice and pork, especially) and other commodities causing massive inflation problems.

Grant.

grantx said:

0007,

"what happens when the Chinese want proper wages for their work?". They are getting higher and higher wages which is adding to the rising price of food (rice and pork, especially) and other commodities causing massive inflation problems.

Grant.

Click to expand...

No, I mean proper wages !

I see (report 2007 Average Chinese Wage Increase to $250 - International Business Times -)

"BEIJING - The average monthly wage of workers in China's cities and towns in the first three quarters this year came out to 1,853 yuan(250$), showing year-on-year growth of 18.8%according to the data from a report issued by People's Bank of China (PBC)."

Agree with you. Prospects seem alarming to me.