The growing season brings both volatility and opportunity to the grain markets.  CEO Darren Frye tells KRVN's Ken Rahjes that history shows us some patterns with the markets.

June 30 2009 Marketing Discipline - Frye.mp3 (4.27 mb)

Late planting progress in some states is leading producers toward hail insurance in some non-typical areas for hail insurance.  Crop Insurance Field Manager Ann Yocum says farmers in Ohio have started signing up for hail policies with a wind endorsement.  She says the late planted corn crop is growing quickly in the hot weather - and often times when a corn crop comes up that way, it's more likely to be brittle.

Pork producers who didn't already have their production hedged before the current downturn in the market may want to hang on.  CEO Darren Frye talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about some of the options that producers have and what the industry will see moving forward.  

June 23 2009 Pork Industry Challenge - Frye.mp3 (3.98 mb)

Growers who have chosen to take advantage of discounts associated with Biotechnology Endorsements have some work to do with their Crop Insurance Specialist ahead of nearby deadlines.  Crop Insurance Training Specialist Steve Jackson talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about some of the considerations.  Reporting deadlines are June 30th in Nebraska and Iowa, July 15th in Illinois.

June 18 2009 Biotech Endorsement - Jackson.mp3 (3.50 mb)

Crazy spring weather – in Minatare, Nebraska on June 10th it rained 3-6 inches and then hailed….in some places as much at 12 inches of hail, according to Crop Insurance Specialist Duane Aschenbrenner.  Here are some photos.

Operating in the feedlot sector of the cattle business right now is bringing some mental strain.  Some pens have been left empty to stop the red ink from flowing.  Losses have been large on unhedged cattle.  And the question looms "If I get out for a while, when do I get back in?"  CEO Darren Frye talks with KRVN's Ken Rahjes about some of the thought processes that go into making the right decisions in trying times like these.

June 8 2009 Challenges in Feedlot Sector - Frye.mp3 (4.14 mb)

This is Sam Hudson, one of the Market Advisors at Water Street Solutions.  Sam’s job is to first understand a client’s financials, and then use that base information to help the producer make the best marketing decisions for his or her particular operation.  It’s Sam’s job to stay on top of what’s happening in the markets day by day, hour by hour.  And Sam’s not alone.  He works with a whole team of experts including several independent contractors and ten other Market Advisors – and Craig, who you met in the previous post – the guy with the flip chart.  Each Market Advisor sits at a desk with four screens of data.

Bottom line – we don’t take marketing recommendations lightly.  A lot of thought and research and discussion goes into each one.  After all, that’s what you’re hiring us for.

The staff and management of Water Street Solutions has just wrapped up 5 weeks of training -- a massive commitment to improving what we offer to the customer.

Those of us who don't touch it every day learned more about marketing.  In this picture, Craig Shepherd, Director of Market Advisors, goes over the options strategy. 

I'd say the biggest learnings for all of us came in being more introspective...a process that benefits all of us when we're looking strategically at our lives and our work and focusing on what we can improve.

I woke up this morning to the sound of hail on the roof.  First the stones were few and far between, and then they came fast with the pouring rain.  Does it make your heart race when you hear that sound?  Consider Crop Hail Insurance.  It not only covers your crops against hail damage, but also provides coverage against fire, lightning, vandalism, malicious mischief, grain damage in transit or in storage and fire department charges.  You can add endorsements for wind storms, green snap and extra harvest expense. 

For those producers who are dealing with a very wet spring -- if you have Prevented Planting on your crop insurance coverage, there are a few things you should know before you make any decision to switch to soybeans.  Contact your Water Street Solutions Crop Insurance Specialist first.  Also, remember to contact your Crop Insurance Specialist BEFORE you do any replanting.