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.

Prevent plant is consistently a topic of conversation in the northern U.S. Whether its spring wheat, canola, sugar beets or sunflowers, how do those unplanted acres impact the corn and soybean market? And what should producers consider with prevent plant acres in their marketing plans? Brian Splitt, co-founders of AgMarket.Net, breaks down northern crop production and how that plays a role in the markets. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Depending on where you’re from, marketing wheat is a key component to keeping your operation profitable. PLUS how does the wheat crop impact your corn and soybean marketing? Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics Stay joins us for exclusive bonus content with tips on marketing wheat. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.

Even if you don’t grow wheat, the wheat crop impacts corn and soybean prices Each May, the Wheat Quality Tour travels through fields in Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado to get a snapshot of the year’s wheat crop. Mike Zuzolo of Global Commodity Analytics breaks down how small grains influence 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.

As spring fieldwork gets underway across the country, what grain marketing strategies should your operation consider this year? Darin Fessler of Lakefront Futures and Options and Doug Simon of Tredas break down the current market and what’s important for producers to consider. This episode was live streamed on Facebook and featured questions from live viewers. Grain IQ is a production of the Nebraska Rural Radio Association, in cooperation and with support from the Nebraska Soybean Board.