The Ag View Pitch

Harvest is upon us and weather forecasts suggest limited disruptions. Prices are into the upper half of price averages since 2014, well above what was expected/feared by many through much of 2020 and as recently as early/mid-August. Thus, there are multiple pathways to concluding that we are currently experiencing exceptional sales opportunities for 2020 and possibly for 2021. Today Chris and Duan...

Chris Barron and Paul Neiffer discuss the details released with CFAP 2.0 and what the payment structure looks like for various commodities. Paul Neiffer is a Principal with Clifton Larson Allen and also author of The Agribusiness Blog Farm CPA Today. https://farmcpatoday.com/

Chris Barron talks about 10 key considerations for keeping the business going while transitioning to the next generation.

Chris and Duane discuss Friday's USDA report and the implications to both 2020 and 2021 producer marketing plans. There are interesting aspects to Friday's report data and in some cases a bit sobering. Much of 2020 was spent with producers fearing prices well below current values and never actually expecting the opportunities that are currently being offered. This creates an entirely different lan...

Chris talks with Mark Welch, a Professor and Extension Economist - Grain Marketing at Texas A&M University. They discuss the current macro and micro economic conditions, including some possible strategies for dealing with the challenges and opportunities that may lay ahead. 

Chris and Duane discuss late season rains and yield expectations as the market anxiously awaits Friday's USDA projections and harvest results. Much of today's podcast discusses the possible merit and need for price protection strategies after recent strength. Each producer needs to evaluate their own situations, but current prices may offer opportunities, as the harvest season and normal price pre...

Shay talks with Natalie Roy of the Agrisafe Network on a cross-podcast discussion for National Farm Safety and Health Week. Sign up for the webinars at  https://learning.agrisafe.org/ and follow and subscribe to the Agrisafe Network Podcast for more farm safety information! Shay will be speaking on Thursday, September 24th! Enoy.

Richard was a long time farming neighbor of Chris and his family. Chris and Richard discuss Richards experiences in farming throughout his life, and the wisdom he gained throughout the years.

Steve Johnson with Iowa State University talks with Chris Barron about the methods used for generating the September 11th USDA report. Which includes Producer Yield Survey, Objective Yield Survey, and Satellite Imagery. How might a shrinking crop after the report influence the next report?

Steve Johnson with Iowa State University and Chris Barron discuss how crop insurance companies are working through coverage adjustments in the crop damaged areas of the Derecho. Be sure to listen in! Important information to understand about your crop insurance policy.

Today Chris and Duane try to sort out weather, yield loss calculations, price targets, possible producer profitability calculations and how all of this may or may not yet be reflected by current prices. With the market now keenly focused on both USDA's Sep 11 reports and combine yield data not far behind, producers need to separate their own farm's production outlook and profitability calculations...

Chris Barron visits with Fred Black who farms in Southeast Arkansas. Fred grows rice, corn, cotton, and soybeans. Chris and Fred discuss crop damage and harvest progress to this point.

.Brent Judisch talks with Shay about the trends in new and used equipment markets, harvesting down corn and watchouts, and also general pre-maintenance checks and inspections as we head into 2020 harvest. Learn more about Brent and his family here: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2017/03/28/teamwork-attention-detail-hallmarks

Chris talks with Ben Pagel from Northeast Security Bank located in Northeast Iowa. They discuss many of the issues that farmers are facing in the current environment, including interest rates, refinancing, cash flow, risk management, and several other financial topics.

Chris and Duane seek to "step back" and try to assess all that has changed during the current growing season, especially a major wind storm, late season dryness, and an increasingly active Chinese buyer. For the first time, we may be seeing the beginning of a major turnaround in large spec funds, who have been short corn for months. Have fundamental foundations changed enough to alter price outloo...

Chris and Duane seek to "step back" and try to assess all that has changed during the current growing season, especially a major wind storm, late season dryness, and an increasingly active Chinese buyer. For the first time, we may be seeing the beginning of a major turnaround in large spec funds, who have been short corn for months. Have fundamental foundations changed enough to alter price outloo...

Shay talks temporary storage in the form of grain bagging with Zane Erickson of North Star Ag. While bagging may seem cumbersome and unreliable (it’s not), Zane talks about why it is a great solution in many areas and how it can potentially help those who have lost storage for this year. You can learn more at northstar-ag.com/product-category/grain-bagger/ and by contacting them at (701)361-4790....

Chris Barron and Greg Carson discuss the challenges from the Derecho. With much of the Grain storage demolished, the storm ravaged area will need to look at alternative logistics for drying and storage options.

Today Chris and Duane produce Ag View Pitch's 200th podcast! As we look ahead to this week, traders are contemplating whether last week's USDA yield projections may have been the year's high water mark. The combination of a very devastating multi-state wind storm, and a 2-week forecast that offers limited precipitation on too many acres, may both help to add momentum to last week's price strength....

Chris Barron and his brother-In-law Brandt Fehl discuss the aftermath of the storm that traveled through Iowa on August 10th.  Also check out the video on our YouTube channel showing images of the destruction https://youtu.be/3HvJAYiS1xE

Meaghan Anderson, Extension Field Agronomist at Iowa State University, talks with Shay about the extent and aftermath of the derecho earlier this week. They discuss agronomic, economic, and logistical impacts that farmers will be dealing with moving forward. This is very informative, and gives perspective and consideration as you move through the rest of the growing season. For more information, p...

Today Steve Jonhson from Iowa State University Extension and Chris discuss the methodology used by the USDA for the August 12th report. They also discuss drought conditions in western Iowa and some fundamental and technical marketing considerations as we move toward harvest.

Today Chris and Duane discuss Wednesday's report and how China's demand activity could help to offset some increased yield projections and produce carryout numbers that are not as negative as current market sentiment has discounted. They also take a look at some historical perspectives to today's prices, in an effort to determine whether producers have reasons to act, or reasons to sit tight.

Mike Grover shares some of his life story with Chris........living on the farm with his father, transitioning from livestock to grain farming, pursuing a career off of the farm and later coming back. Mike also shares important life lessons passed on from his father. We are honored to have talked with Mike! #DadsWisdom 

Today Chris and Duane discuss crop conditions and forecasts, pondering how that might provide a market boost. Much of this year has been focused on excess supplies, but has recent China purchases and the prospects of more to come, given justification for shifting focus to demand? Producer sales activity has been below normal so far this year, but it is time to solidify harvest strategies and is it...