Sound marketing plan means confident lender

The three gentlemen at the podium in Anaheim are close. Ohio grain farmer Bret Davis; his banker, Kent Kramer and Davis’s paid market advisor, Mike Hogan, discussed for an hour at Commodity Classic the importance of communication, confidence and discipline among these entities. In this case, the producer who’s willing to listen to market advice, his lender who knows Davis’s farm operation and the advisor with insight into the market, makes for a profitable relationship and success for all three.

AUDIO: Bret Davis, Kent Kramer and Mike Hogan (3 min. MP3)

Waiting for beef demand to recover

At the Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio in late January, CattleFax  market analyst Kevin Good reviewed the supply and demand situation facing the beef industry.  Good says while the beef supply picture is extremely bullish, lagging demand for beef continues to present a big challenge.

AUDIO: Kevin Good (3 min MP3)

Latest numbers not great for dairy

The nation’s dairy producers had a rough year in ’09 and they’re not out of the woods yet. USDA’s latest statistics show more than 21-hundred dairies, most of which had 100 cows or less, stopped operating… but milk production only slowed three-tenths of one-percent. Missouri Dairy Association director Dave Drennan says the herd retirements didn’t have the impact that was hoped for.  So, the focus of dairy profit seminars last week with the University of Missouri extension talked a lot about controlling rations.

AUDIO: Dave Drennan, Missouri Dairy Association, executive director (3:00 min., MP3)

Putting emphasis on international marketing

At the recent United Soybean Board meeting in Birmingham, Alabama USB directors spent a significant amount of time talking about international marketing. Jim Call of Minnesota, chairman of the USB International Marketing committee says the selection of the U.S. Soybean Export Council as their primary IM contractor will allow them to move forward.

Audio: Jim Call, USB director from Minnesota (3:00 MP3)

Metz recalls biodiesel’s beginnings

Soybean growers made a significant investment to jumpstart the biodiesel industry. South Dakota grower Bob Metz has no regrets about the checkoff money that has been spent to support promotion and research of the renewable diesel fuel. As a former chairman of the National Biodiesel Board and as a past president of the American Soybean Association, Metz reflects on the current relationship between the biodiesel industry and soybean growers.

AUDIO: Bob Metz (3 min. MP3)

Ag ecomist: corn market faces potential ‘collision’ of market factors

A Kansas State University ag economist says three major corn market factors could be on a collision course for this spring.  According to Dan O’Brien, one of those is stored corn that may be going out of condition.  A second factor is the several hundred million bushels of corn still in the field.  And a third is the possibility of delayed corn planting—especially in northern areas—due to extremely saturated soils.  O’Brien says those three factors could create considerable market uncertainty in the next 60 days.

AUDIO: Dan O’Brien (3 min MP3)

The dollar and other export influences

Darin Newsom is Senior Analyst with DTN, he says there are a number of factors which will come into play for U.S. corn and soybean exports this year.

AUDIO: Darin Newsom talks about the markets

Keeping nutrient management records

No matter if you are a large livestock producer or small livestock producer, Purdue University Extension nutrient management specialist Tamilee Nennich says detailed records of nutrient management practices are a good idea for more than one reason.

Audio: Tamilee Ninnich, Purdue Extension (3:00 MP3)

Estate planning stressful for families

Planning for the transfer of a farm from one generation to another is complex and can create rifts among family members. Chris Monroe, president of Capital Preservation Specialists, is an expert in such matters and has personal experience. The role he takes with clients is as a coach and facilitator talking all parties involved. Sometimes, says Monroe, transitions involve two or more generations with children and grandchildren on the farm and in other states. He says many differing opinions about the process can lead to families not doing anything at all.

AUDIO: Chris Monroe (3 min. MP3)

The changing structure of the cattle industry

Cattle and beef prices are expected to average slightly higher in 2010 than they did in 2009.  And, while profits should improve, they will remain thin for cow-calf operators and cattle feeders.  Those are two of the predictions made by CattleFax experts during their recent 2010 Outlook Seminar in San Antonio.  As the seminar conluded, CattleFax executive vice president Randy Blach discussed structural changes taking place in the industry.

AUDIO: Randy Blach (3 min MP3)

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