2 min read
Don’t Play The Victim: Grain Merchandising Through Adversity Requires A Plan
This year many of the ghosts of grain merchandising past have revisited us; low cash prices, higher than normal harvest basis levels, uncertainty of...
1 min read
6 Steps to Trust but Verify Grain Business Position Reports
Jeff Reardon: Sep 22, 2015
“Trust but verify” is a Russian proverb Ronald Reagan made famous, but risk managers, CFO’s and grain company lenders live by it today.
2 min read
5 Disciplines of Grain Merchandising that Stand the Test of Time
Sherry Lorton: Sep 1, 2015
When you see what appear to be good, well-established, long-standing companies suddenly fall apart it makes you wonder. How do good businesses go...
2 min read
4 Ways to Enhance Your Grain Business with Training
In the workplace, training and development can often be an overlooked or underutilized approach to improving business. Often the myth is that with...
1 min read
Hedging Currency Risk for International Grain Merchandisers
Jeff Reardon: Jul 14, 2015
Grain Merchandisers intentionally eliminate as much currency risk as possible and trade based on the changes in the basis in the grain markets. The...
1 min read
Is Your Grain Merchandising Plan In a 4-Alarm Emergency or Fire Drill?
When was the last time you actually walked through your merchandising plan? In the midst of the lackadaisical pricing environment of this past...
2 min read
28 Ways to Know You're Married to a Grain Merchandiser
Being a grain merchandiser can be a pretty lonely existence. There just aren't that many people on the planet that truly understand what a grain...
1 min read
Checklist for Finding a Great Banker for Your Grain Business
Jeff Reardon: May 5, 2015
It can be very painful for grain companies to change banks. New financial relationships require conference calls, planning sessions, and a lot of...