There’s some comfort in routine right now. For producers, there’s another crop to plant, harvest, and distribute – and it all starts right now.
One thing that’s not routine, though, is making a profit. Challenging markets continue, and that calls for careful planning once again. Regardless of circumstances, here are five basic actions within your control:
Stay safe
Leverage your crop insurance investment
Lower your input costs
Maximize your grain marketing revenue
Use the buddy system
In Episode 29 of In the Driver’s Seat,... Read More
When conditions are tough, it’s natural for lower order thinking and survival instincts to kick in—like the brain of a squirrel in survival mode. Economists call these habits “heuristics”—bad habits that take over and sabotage good decision-making.
Our latest podcast aims to help you understand and resist your “squirrel brain.” Doug Roose, V.P. of Producer Marketing at ADM sat down with Nathan Brabec at the Farm Progress Show to talk about the mental battle farmers face.... Read More
It’s mid-way through the growing season, with harvest around the corner. If you still have some bin bushels to clear out, you face marketing decisions on two crops—old and new.
That’s a lot of risk to manage at one time. While you shouldn’t make pressured decisions, be aware that time may be running out for good marketing before combines roll and grain moves into the market.... Read More
The market is carefully watching news about corn and soybean acreage, planting delays from flooding, and trade news. Any one factor could quickly change price direction—or not. You need to be ready for both scenarios.
Bryce Knorr, respected grain market analyst with Farm Futures magazine, believes that 2019 will hold opportunities to make a profit on both corn and soybeans.... Read More
It was a challenging 2018. The year started with positive news: projections of record soy demand and weather issues in Argentina. But then we had a perfect storm: a trade war, a better-than-expected South American crop, and another huge U.S. harvest. Mid-summer saw a dramatic drop in commodity prices that’s still trying to recover.
When you seem to lack control, it’s hard to get motivated for a new crop year.... Read More
Ready for some good news for a change? This was a challenging year for markets, but if seasonal trends hold true, we may have weathered the weakest months. Opportunities have come around again to jump on spring prices for some of your 2019 crop.
Because stronger markets typically happen early in the crop year when you’re busy putting that crop in the ground,... Read More
A record harvest along with lingering trade uncertainty have weighed on markets. But as you continue to farm, there’s one thing you have to fall back on: discipline—doing the right things, step by step. It’s not too early to estimate 2019 acreage and yield, then sketch out a preliminary grain marketing plan. By planning now, you can participate in two key contracts that have a January enrollment deadline.... Read More
There’s a fine line between staying flexible in your grain marketing and acting on a hunch. Learn the difference from Dale Jackson and Jim Sibbel, ADM representatives who work with grain producers to navigate challenging markets. In Episode 4 of ADM’s In the Driver’s Seat podcast, Sibbel and Jackson discuss the right reasons to adjust your marketing plan—and when you should stay the course.... Read More
