April 25, 2019
During the “commodity super-cycle” between 2007 and 2012, it wasn’t unusual for net farm income to top $125,000. But statistics show median farm income around $35,000 in 2017. Some would say we’re in a “winter of agriculture”—meaning a tougher
April 4, 2019
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
March 20, 2019
When markets are bordering your break-even, it’s encouraging to hear from producers who are making it work. One straight-shooter on the speaking circuit is Matt Bennett. He grows corn and soybeans on a 3,000-acre farm in Illinois. For Bennett,
March 11, 2019
One big question in 2019 is trade: Will the U.S. and China reach an agreement? Will Congress approve the pact with Canada and Mexico? While export markets are important, there are other market drivers to consider: South American weather,
February 14, 2019
Going into a new crop year, you need some early wins, and February gives you the perfect chance to do that. How? By locking in lower fertilizer prices while also contracting some of your new-crop bushels in spring markets—typically
January 16, 2019
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
December 6, 2018
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
November 8, 2018
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
October 29, 2018
ADM has announced it’s working with Cargill to develop information technology that will give farmers powerful insights into their production economics, and consolidate grain marketing activities into a single digital platform.
October 4, 2018
With harvest underway, hopefully your 2018 grain marketing plan is still in place, guiding you on whether to sell or store the extra bushels in this large harvest. Successful businesses continually review their wins and losses so they can
September 12, 2018
In this farm economy, you’re looking to reduce costs on anything you can. With fertilizer making up one-third of your input costs for corn and soybeans, this is a great place to start. Locking in a good price when
August 9, 2018
With cash rents, repair bills, and other expenses coming due, you may be anxious to sell some of your harvest grain. But a cash-only sale has a drawback: you walk away from potential upside in the market. And storing
August 3, 2018
When planning the crops to incorporate in your rotation, you don’t want to put something in the ground that you don’t know how to get out. Knowing some of the logistics of harvesting a crop before planting it can