Comment – How much?

I could not help but notice that the local garage was pricing diesel at 187.9ppl yesterday. This set me thinking about the current cost of fuel, hence a quick request to Google AI (other AI based chatbots are available) to enquire if the prices at the pumps are at an all time high, no was the answer. In fact the full answer is here. It’s no surprise, as the northern hemisphere heads towards winter and matters globally have not settled down at all. The beeb has some decent insight here too.

Closer to home the grass has started growing which has certainly put a shot in the arm of the lamb and beef trade, and the price of wheat is happily marching above £210/tonne for November delivery. This summer’s hard lesson is already being tackled with a large proportion of winter crops going into now damp soils in many places. I daresay there is still significant soil moisture deficit across the land, but at least there’s enough moisture now for many to crack on.

In the machinery trade all of the above indicators are firmly in the box of factors to be aware of, if not manage. But the big global players are starting to call the end of the downturn, with Deere improving their income outlook,  whilst CNH reckons that the industry is ‘in a market that remains at the trough of the agriculture cycle’.  whilst inventories are getting back to normal levels.

For some more insight, albeit with a distinct North American slant have a look here. As they say ‘What starts over there, ends up over here’.

Have a good week, I’m at the Westmorland Show on Wednesday, bring your wellies and sunnies, you may need both!

Andy