Articles

Keep Your Balance Sheet Strong

The idea of “saving for a rainy day” traces its roots back to at least the 16th century, but it may as well have originated… Read more »
Strategies for Low-Margin Environments

Although it is easier to strategize about protecting profitability when times are good, a sound risk management plan applies to all margin environments, and is… Read more »
Today’s Opportunities: Low-Cost Feed Protection

As both corn futures prices and corn option implied volatility hover near historical lows, livestock producers may want to consider securing low-cost protection now for… Read more »

Account for the Impact of Milk Check Deductions

Recently, many dairy producers have seen their revenues decline as a result of mandatory deductions from processing plants. While no one likes a smaller milk… Read more »
Managing Uncertainty in Forward Hog Margins

With two brand new state-of-the-art pork processing plants currently opening and another one slated to open a year from now, many hog producers are no… Read more »
Keys to a Successful Advisor Relationship

A good risk management advisor can be a valuable asset for agriculture producers, especially during volatile markets. As prices and margins swing widely, threatening short-term… Read more »

The Limitations of Seasonality Data

With summer now in full swing, it is a good time to revisit the topic of seasonality. Many agriculture producers look to seasonal price trends… Read more »
Optimize Your Capital

For most agriculture producers, capital is an asset in limited supply. Hedging strategies, such as trading futures and options, require maintaining performance bonds, and these… Read more »
Managing Counterparty Risk

Recent news that a dairy processor abruptly cancelled contracts with a group of Wisconsin dairy farmers has highlighted the need to address counterparty risk as… Read more »