Consistent randomness and investigative reporting are two themes that come from the Pro Farmer Crop Tour every August. The tour has become an industry event that analysts, agronomists, farmers and more closely watch for real-time insights on crop conditions in seven states: Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. But what's the significance of the data to the markets? Is it accurate? And how should the data be used in grain marketing decisions? Chip Flory with Pro Farmer leads the Western Leg of the tour each year. He said their team of scouts has the same route during the same week with the same calculation methods to gather realistic data about the crop year after year. In addition to consistent randomness, Flory said the tour serves as an investigative report to level the playing field for farmers with access to data. “There have been years when the crop tour has deviated significantly from what USDA has showed us,” he said. Flory joins us to elaborate on the tour and its significance to grain marketing. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

On-farm grain storage gives farmers another option at harvest, but it also adds a few more factors to consider in a risk management plan. For farmers considering expanding their on-farm storage capacity, what specifically should they be factoring into that decision? What technological advancements in grain storage are making an economic impact? What do farmers need to assess for their grain marketing plan? Dr. Ken Hellevang, a professor and extension engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University, joins us to answer these questions in part two of this conversation. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

On-farm grain storage has drastically changed how producers harvest and market their grain. What are the economic benefits of keeping grain in good condition? Are there considerable differences in storage practices? In part one of a two-part discussion, Dr. Ken Hellevang, a professor and extension engineer in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University, answers these questions. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Due to the growing demand for soybean oil, soybean crush capacity is rapidly expanding across Nebraska to increase soy oil output. Will this lead to increased soybean prices? How do you factor these elements into your risk management plan? In recent years, there has been a notable increase in demand for soybean oil for use in renewable fuels. Here's some quick math to consider: One bushel of soybeans weighs 60 pounds. Of that, 12 pounds (20%) is soybean oil, which accounts for 37% of the soybean’s value. The remaining 47 pounds or so (80%) is soy meal, making up 63% of the soybean’s value. Jacquie Holland, an economist with the American Soybean Association, joins us on Grain IQ to explain how crush expansions in the Midwest will impact your grain marketing plan. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

The U.S. Dollar. The Brazilian Deal. The Chinese Yuan. The U.S. Dollar is often referred to in commodity trading, but why? What impact does it have on major commodities? About 65% - 75% of all price settlements and merchandise trade invoices have been settled in U.S. dollars, according to Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics. Plus, farmers get caught up in day-to-day operations, but it’s often headlines off the farm, and even off the continent, that impact your risk management plan. Today on Grain IQ, Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics breaks down currency and why it matters.

Every Friday after the markets close, the Commitment of Traders report is released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). You’ve likely heard analysts talk about the report, but what does it really mean for your farm? Do the numbers matter if the data is three days delayed? John Payne with Advanced Trading has been in grain marketing for nearly 20 years. He joins us today on Grain IQ to share how you can use the data to make decisions. If you haven’t listened to part one, we invite you to start there. Payne explains “the funds,” which lays the groundwork for this conversation. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

The funds are net short. The funds are net long. The funds are... huh? Who are “the funds” anyway, and how do they influence my grain marketing plan? John Payne with Advanced Trading has been in grain marketing for nearly 20 years and he joins us on Grain IQ to answer those questions. This is Part One of a two-part series. Be sure to catch Part Two where Payne breaks down the weekly Commitment of Traders report and how farmers can use that information in their grain marketing plans. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

It seems like market analysts always bring up South American corn and soybean production. Does that really matter for your farming operation? Jeff Peterson, president of Heartland Farm Partners in Lincoln, breaks down South American agriculture - especially in Brazil and Argentina – and how it impacts family farms across the United States. Here’s what you can hear in this episode: - Size & scope of South American production - Significance and evolution of South American production - Seasonality of markets based on South American influences - Why this matters for your grain marketing plan Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board. Listen to Grain IQ on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or ruralradionetwork.com.

Welcome back to Grain IQ! In this episode, we sit down with Cory Walters, an associate professor in the Department of Ag Economics at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, to dive deep into the world of crop insurance and its role in grain marketing strategies. Cory brings his expertise to the table to give a comprehensive understanding of crop insurance fundamentals. From its ability to rearrange financial outcomes to its importance in managing risk exposure, Cory breaks down key concepts and provides practical insights for farmers looking to optimize their risk management plans. Throughout the conversation, Chad and Cory discuss pre-harvest grain marketing tactics, the nuances of private insurance attachments like SCO and ECO, and the significance of staying informed about changes in county-level yields. Whether you're a seasoned farmer seeking to refine your grain marketing strategies or a newcomer looking to navigate the complexities of crop insurance, this episode of Grain IQ has something for you. Tune in to gain valuable insights to make informed decisions about your farm's financial health. Subscribe and tune in to Grain IQ on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or ruralradionetwork.com. This episode is proudly supported by the Nebraska Soybean Board and brought to you in part by Nebraska Soybean Farmers and their checkoff.

Welcome to Season 4 of the grain marketing podcast, Grain IQ, hosted by Chad Moyer!

Farmers have been hesitant to sell to bushels, as corn and soybean prices witnessed a sharp decline from their earlier peaks. Consequently, elevators find themselves with lower levels of grain ownership, impacting their ability to take advantage of wider carries and basis levels. In some regions, basis has plummeted to multi-year lows. The most recent episode of the Grain IQ podcast featured a discussion on the outlook for grain storage in U.S. Elevators as bushels remain elusive. Guest: Tanner Ehmke, Lead Grains and Oilseeds Economist with CoBank. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Long before the instantaneous internet, grain traders in Chicago made trades by hand. Literally. In fact, traders basically came up with their own version of sign language for this highly-active job. Mark Gold of Top Third Ag Marketing in Chicago described what his job looked like in the 1970s. In this episode of Grain IQ, we go back in history to learn what it was like to trade commodities before computers were part of the picture. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Once a city kid who went to school to be a doctor, Mark Gold with Top Third Ag Marketing in Chicago became a widely-respected grain trader and analyst who continues to serve producers. In this episode of Grain IQ, Gold shares his historical perspective in grain trading and how that impacts today's grain marketing.

Honey, I shrunk the futures contracts! Since the late 1990s, mini futures contracts have been traded, representing a fraction of standard-size contracts. Then came the introduction of micro futures contracts. On this episode of Grain IQ, we’ll explore mini and micro futures contracts, including what they are and how you can use them in your grain marketing plan! Fabio Mattos joins us for today’s episode. He’s an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

You turn up the radio when the broadcaster gives the latest market numbers, and you hear him rattle off multiple months for each commodity. Why? What do those trading months mean? On this episode of Grain IQ, why are there different trading months for corn and soybeans? How do the trading months impact your grain marketing plan? Fabio Mattos, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, joins us for today’s episode. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.