24 Excuses to Delay Farm Marketing Decisions

If you have tried to originate grain for a day or for a lifetime, you’ve heard plenty of reasons NOT to sell grain. “OK,” you say, “why don’t we go ahead and put in an offer to sell the grain at a price that would work for you?” Then you find out there are even more excuses than you realized. Some of them are reasonable and some of them… not so much.

Like any decision, selling grain can be hard and takes practice and discipline to get good at it. As an originator, it can seem insurmountable. However, your message can sink in over time. Like water dripping on a rock. Don’t be discouraged and continue to help the ones that will let you.

Here’s some good news: You are not alone! As proof, we’ve collected some quotes from grain originators across North America of excuses they’ve heard from their customers who are delaying their farm marketing. In no particular order, here they are:

“I can't sell any grain until my neighbor does because I don't want him to think I need the money.” 

"I can't sell because it is my retirement fund.  I want to leave it on DP until then".  Said the fellow 3 years ago...............he doesn't retire for another 3 years!

“To avoid paying too much income tax.”

“Price might go up tomorrow.”

“Can't sell because price is below profit level.”

“Last time I set targets, prices got higher.”

“I can't sell now because of the drought that might come this summer and the price will go up.”

“I can't sell until my fiscal year ends.”  I've explained that we can price now and pay later, but that doesn't seem to make any sense, he'd rather just pay storage month after month.

"If I have money in the bank, I might spend it. It's harder to spend corn in a bin."

“Every time I put in a target, price goes way higher.“

“I just want to watch the market.”

“I always sell in the summer.”

“I can't sell my corn in the bin because I haven't dried it yet.” (conversation in March) 

“Can't make any money at these prices.” (says he who doesn't know his input costs) 

“I might not grow it.” 

“Don't want to sell beans at harvest, combine payment isn't due till June.” 

“One time I contracted grain for harvest and it went higher, I'll never do that again.” 

“Price will go up. I don't think there's as much corn out there as people think.” 

“Guy on the radio said to wait.”

“If I put in a target, the market will know where I want to sell. That's bad because of resistance levels or HFT or something.”

“Futures are higher for the fall than for now.  That means the price is going to be higher if I wait till this summer.”

"Farmers are only going to grow what they lose the least amount of money on.  If they are going to lose $150 dollars on beans and $100 dollars on corn, everyone is going to grow corn."  Very optimistic guy as you can tell.

“I don't care what the USDA report says (and I don't care about the report from every other private forecaster, or the basis, or what I saw on my cross-country trip to the Ozarks, or the view out my back door), that crop just isn't out there.”

“I sold too early back in 1996.  Boy, I'll never do that again.  I didn't listen to Grandpa's rule that he made when the same thing happened to him in 1973.”

Please use the comment section below to share some of the quotes you've heard from your experiences.

If you'd like to hear more about how others in the grain business are addressing the problems you deal with every day, get connected with us.