Foresight is a valuable tool and this is only an attempt to provide you with some information.

Native grasses are not stable. CRP signed ups have started again with plantings to occur 2011 through 2013 with many being delayed to 2012 due to drought and seed availability. Farming practices are changing due to commodity prices and changing consumer purchases. Overall there are just less producers of Native Grass seeds which are keeping the prices higher and availability spotty.

Turf grasses are in much better supply than native grasses. Bermuda grass is currently higher than normal with sufficient supply for now. Cool season grasses (fescue, ryegrass) have started to increase in price with good supplies available.

Small grains are being impacted by the drought. This will mean record highs for seed in 2011.

Forage plants such as millet and sorghum are at normal price levels. A continued drought in Texas is impacting the demand. While this same drought will affect the 2011 seed harvest. Anticipate higher prices in 2012.

Fertilizer prices have dropped from the highs of 2008. However, high commodity prices in Corn, Cotton, Soybeans, and Wheat are keeping price levels higher than normal. Supply and demand are at work and if the drought breaks across the central United Sates fertilizers could spike very quickly. It will depend on timing of rain and available supplies.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

Overall it appears that high commodity prices are meaning that more acres will be planted to cash crops. This increase should drive prices of inputs up to produce higher yields. Additionally, specialty items such as Native Grasses, Turf Grasses, and Forage plants will have less production acres allocated to them.