Just as a diversified retirement portfolio is important for investors, a diversified grain marketing plan is essential for producers. While no strategy is perfect in every environment, a well-rounded approach can help producers navigate market volatility more smoothly.1 Stability of income and effective risk management are key objectives of a strategic grain marketing plan. Adam…
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a native North American plant, and currently, there are no commercially available genetically modified varieties. In the late 1960s, it became a commercially cultivated and economically important crop. It is a lightweight seed at 28 pounds per bushel. John Sandbakken, Executive Director of the National Sunflower Association, has worked for…
Growers learn from other growers. Emmanuel Bankston, Climate-Smart Manager for ADM Golden Peanut Company, says speaking with growers on their farms helps him understand their challenges and successes. Plus, as a farmer himself, he sees firsthand how regenerative ag practices and programs benefit a farming operation – whether that’s on his acres or those of…
Time-stamped grain marketing is a tool for mitigating risk and planning for profit. By selling portions of your crop at intervals throughout the year, you may increase your chances of encountering favorable market conditions. Hugo VanRoessel, ADM Area Sales Manager, states, “Effective grain marketing can seem like a Herculean task. When you break down the…
It’s the middle of the night and Donald Chase is out in the field, guiding his sprayer down a narrow row of peanut plants. The cool Georgia night air has displaced the intense daytime heat typical during the hot summer months. Headlights pierce the darkness as the sprayer works its way through the peanut fields,…
At one time, farms sold directly to consumers, building relationships and understanding. Today, however, farms are most often removed from interaction with consumers. Georgia producer Donald Chase believes opportunities are missed because agriculture is not as connected to consumers as it should be. So he connects with them in a unique way. Watch video and…
Despite being traded as a commodity like grain, fertilizer markets at the farm level have historically lacked the same transparency. Crop nutrients traditionally have been bought and sold through distributors to local dealers to supply farmers in season. ADM Farm Direct Fertilizer has changed the way farmers look at buying their fertilizer by providing transparency…
In the quiet stretches of northern Florida, near Marianna, Howard Hodge Jr.’s farm seems at ease under the morning sun. While the fields of peanuts and bahiagrass catch the breeze, it’s his cattle, grazing steadily in the pasture, that form the heart of Howard’s sustainable operation. Though Howard has retired from his off-farm job, his…
Historical trends in the market make a strong case for forward selling. While there have been exceptions, history generally supports forward marketing. Since 2000, early crop-year futures have outperformed harvest prices by 79% of the time for corn and 71% of the time for soybeans. Despite weather years like 2012 making some farmers hesitant to…
Howard Hodge Jr. has been working on his farm in northern Florida since he was six years old. Even after he earned his degree and got a full-time job off the farm, he continued to put in long hours on the farm. Along the way, he implemented unique management techniques that reduce laborious tasks and…
