From my understanding, there aren't many country fur-buyers in Canada. They had NAFA and FHA. Now they have FHA. So most Canadian trappers ship already. So it doesn't seem they're really addressing Canadians as much as they are American trappers. I'm betting Groeny isn't the only American country buyer with a direct line to an Asian market or other markets abroad. These guys are coming up with contingency plans, and FHA hasn't laid out fur to look at yet. Why would FHA announce don't sell your fur until our trucks get around to you again? It's already understood by those who are going to ship to FHA that they will be running their trucks on certain dates for pick-up. That seems to mean they're talking to those who have options, like American trappers do. Canada, I'm not so sure about. Ship to NAFA, ship to FHA is what Canadians generally posted about. Now, they have the Groeny option. What's he doing up there? Shaking up the market? Giving those Canucks a chance to get paid now? It's a carefully constructed announcement by FHA, whatever it means, and whoever they're talkin' to.

Groeny and a couple other buyers are buying a pile of coyotes from guys that normally ship and paying top dollar.

Those who are dealing with marketing fur to foreign outlets on a daily basis set the market, not an auction house holding a few sales annually.

If the Chinese aren't willing to pay more than say $14 for a 3X clear raccoon in the country, why in God's name would they pay more for that same coon at auction? Fact is they won't!

I'm guessing Groenewold's are looking to buy every coon and rat they can at the March FH sale, and will probably pay less than they are right now in the country.

The Chinese aren't buying raccoon in the country, they are buying coon from a buyer that buys in the country. If Groenwold is paying $14 for a 3X coon you know he is not selling it for $14.

I look at it this way. Groeny made deal to sell coon cheap. That drags down the coon market. How does that benefit " for profit trappers" if Groeny will sell coon below most trappers cost of production?

Groeny isn't paying $14 for 3X, and that coon is purchased from here in the country by the Chinese, unless they are purchasing dressed goods.

They sell coon for the maximum amount the buyer will pay, which are the Chinese for the most part. They wouldn't turn much of a profit by selling them too cheap.

Isn't that what an auction house does? Sell for the maximum the buyers will pay.

Let's wait and see if the March sale in North Dakota has a repeat performance. And, my interpretation of FHA's letter to the trade, was to infer that the 2nd sale might be a much better time to sell. Corona Virus fears will likely settle with warming weather, just like Sars in 2002. This probably would result in a smoother cash transition to North America as Asian buyers have a lot on their plate at the moment trying to decipher retail sales results and market demand. This, as well as European and North Americans, although not as much concern here.

Who is gronewald competition?

The timing of the March sale in North Dakota could be a factor, March 20-21. Just before the FHA sale and right in the middle of inspection in Toronto. In my opinion, there will be cautious buyers in North Dakota. I could be wrong but I am entitled to my opinion.

Zander and sons, Weibke's, Petska, state auctions, just to name a few.

Inadequate competition has farther set back this buyers market. If groeny sets the market he’s doing a poor job of it. Then again what incentive does he have to overpay?

Why would any business over pay? When I go to the sale barn to purchase live stock, I sure don't go with the idea of over paying!

China's unwillingness to pay more is some how Groeny's fault? What they are willing to pay sets the market. Groeny, and other large buyers, deal with them day in, and day out.

I just got off the phone to Marc Downey, asking about this. I fielded quite a few calls on the way to a doc appointment this morning. Marc said, "I put that out because many in western Canada were selling to runaround buyers and the market has not been set yet at the international auction". He added, "we expect a large attendence at our auction. Those that can't come because of illness can readily buy electronically, or through a broker".

I believe it was directed to a lesser degree to those that still had fur in the lower 48, and were getting worried because of the rumors.

Thanks for the explanation Lee.

Absolutely, You could say what incentive does he have to pay more than he has to. Not over pay. We as trappers are payed just enough so we are dumb enough to produce product for him. Only time we have any window of decent prices is during skin shortages. Maybe with ranch mink numbers falling tremendously we could see a year or two of good prices soon if China doesn’t implode

Ok overpay is the wrong word. Supply and Competition sets the market. Groeny makes money. Probably prefers cheap prices to keep costs down and reduce risk. Like I said buyers market and the only way that’s gonna change is thru auction. See auction makes money by forcing prices up.

Best wishes FHA. Fingers crossed cuz I don’t think anybody else will do it for us.

Right. Because what would be scary is if Grunwald was so big that the Chinese can get the vast majority of their needs filled through one supplier. As a business person groenewold only needs to make a certain amount of profit margin. Who cares what the Chinese pay as long as he makes his desired profit margin.

Ya think pushing coon as coat liners, will improve the price of coon? It will move more low price coon. Who does that benefit?

I can agree with you on that Dirt, I certainly hope coat liners are not the future of the fur market.