1 min read
5 Keys for Survival in a Flat or Inverted Spread Environment
Most merchandisers don’t enjoy trading markets with small carries and/or inverted spreads, but by all appearances, that is what the market is going...
Grain Merchandising
4 min read
Merchandising: What's the Worst that Could Happen?
As the season of fall harvest planning is upon us, let us take a moment to review the idea, and the reality, of the importance of having a grain flow...
1 min read
You Can't Merchandise Your Way Out of Overpaying...
Grain elevator managers and merchandisers make many daily decisions that include selecting grain policies, buying grain, managing spreads, and...
1 min read
Balancing Act
Phil Luce: Jan 5, 2022
Weighing the Market's Needs with Those of Your Business
1 min read
Spreads Know
Phil Luce: Nov 22, 2021
Prior to a harvest, spreads for an upcoming crop year reflect the market’s emotions about that year. After harvest, spreads reflect the market’s...
1 min read
Watch Those Emotions: When Markets Get Weird, Get Calm.
Phil Luce: Mar 25, 2021
Unmet expectations are the springboard for all kinds of human problems. When things don't go as expected, the likelihood of becoming irrational or...
1 min read
The Basis Trader's Rules
Sherry Lorton: Jun 16, 2020
I ran across this in my favorites folder the other day. I thought it a worthy reminder of how being successful in the grain elevator business is...
2 min read
Thoughts on Navigating an Uncertain Environment
Phil Luce: May 19, 2020
Last spring, things in the grain world were a mess. Huge swaths of the country were late planting or not planting at all. The general sense was that...
2 min read
The Consequences of Paying Too Much At Harvest
Sherry Lorton: Sep 19, 2019
Competition is the driving forces that determines a fair and equitable price. For the most part, your cash price to producers is based on your best...