grain prices

SwineCast 0739

• The short-term effects of the 2012 drought are readily apparent though we hope the feed price peaks are behind us.  Looking through a banker's glasses at the waves resulting from a short crop... and what scenario for 2013 most concerns Jeffrey Swanhorst, Executive Vice-President of Credit and Chief Credit Officer for AgriBank.

SwineCast 0710

• We've been wondering just how much the uncertainty in the European Union and elsewhere could affect our grains and exports.  Dan O'Brien, research and extension ag economist shares this insight with Eric Atkinson.

SwineCast 0613

• Economist Dr. Steve Meyer shares thoughts on the impact of ethanol policy on grain markets and who eventually pays for the diversion from feed supplies.

SwineCast 0599

• How will the general economic uncertainty affect the future of our industry?  Jim Kielkopf, economist for AgriBank, discusses how economic uncertainty has impacted producer decisions and what role speculators and hedge fund industry play in agriculture along with the global increase in commodity prices.  

SwineCast 0358 Show Notes:

• Update on the Verasun bankruptcy and this link to Iowa State's regularly updated website on the situation 
• Chicago traders discuss recent market volatility and how producers should prepare to deal with risk in the future
• President of the Farm Credit Council discusses availability of credit within the system and why its in better shape than some commercial competitors

SwineCast 0356 Show Notes:

• Looking at the fallout from California's Prop 2 with California producer and National Pork Board president Steve Weaver
• Higher grains this winter?  Mike Woolverton says the market needs to buy about 4 mln more corn acres.
• Some interesting parallels in today's economic turmoil and what agriculture dealt with in the 80's

One of the options available to both livestock and crop producers is the ability to sell their products, and thereby establish a price, well in advance of the delivery of the final product. While this is can be done directly with futures contracts, many if not most producers do it through their packer or grain elevator using what is commonly referred to as forward contracting.

Historically, crop contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade have allowed forward pricing a few years ahead of delivery. For instance, you can price corn in the low $5 a bushel range today out as far as 2010. Livestock contracts have always had a shorter pricing horizon usually a little less than one year to about a year in advance.