The Elevator's Cut Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Elevator's Cut
The grain merchandisers podcast where Roger and Jason capture the big topics and challenges of the grain industry with humor, pragmatism, and simplicity. With a few decades of combined experience in the basis trading, brokerage, and farm marketing spheres, they use their experiences and knowledge of their area of the grain business to shed some light on what they can, and debunk some myths and exaggerations that exist in the grain industry.
S2E18 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Why do two elevators 15 miles apart post completely different bids for the same grain? Jason and Roger break down the different "games" being played across elevators, end users, and resellers. They also dig into how much say a co-op board should actually have over grain-buying policy.
Check Out Our Website - https://www.whitecommercial.com/
S2E17 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Are we giving producers too much freedom? In this episode of The Elevator's Cut, we're diving into the wild world of behavioral economics and why endless grain marketing choices usually just lead to terrible, last-minute decisions.
Check Out Our Website - https://www.whitecommercial.com/
S2E16 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
May brings bad weather, planting stress, and $5 corn, but should you actually be selling right now? Today, we're breaking down why FOMO is destroying your grain marketing strategy, the hard truth about elevator margins, and why the commercial side is pushing you to lock in basis.
Check Out Our Website - https://www.whitecommercial.com/
In This Video:
Jeff Reardon's CFO Insights - https://www.whitecommercial.com/cfo-insight
Bloomington Meeting Details - https://www.gfai.org/upcoming-events.html
S2E15 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Everyone says the market is "wrong," but the truth is usually just a supply crunch hidden in plain sight. We’re breaking down the "DeLorean Market" (Backwardation), why the Strait of Hormuz is driving everyone crazy, and the 3 phases of the grain business you need to survive.
Check Out Our Website - https://www.whitecommercial.com/
In This Video:
Jeff Reardon's CFO Insights - https://www.whitecommercial.com/cfo-insight Bloomington Meeting Details - https://www.gfai.org/upcoming-events.html
S2E14 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut!
In this episode, we're diving deep into the specific cultural characteristics that separate high-performing grain elevators from the rest of the pack. Drawing from over 50 years of industry observations and fresh off a national conference, the discussion moves beyond simple "buy low, sell high" tactics to explore the fundamental mindsets that drive long-term profitability and operational excellence.
S2E13 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut! In this episode, we're diving deep into the specific cultural characteristics that separate high-performing grain elevators from the rest of the pack. Drawing from over 50 years of industry observations and fresh off a national conference, the discussion moves beyond simple "buy low, sell high" tactics to explore the fundamental mindsets that drive long-term profitability and operational excellence.
S2E12 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut! In this episode, we're diving into the disconnect between public perception and the gritty reality of life in the grain industry. From the perspective of seasoned grain merchandisers, the conversation challenges common misconceptions—like the idea that any rain is "good" rain—by highlighting how unseasonable warmth and poorly timed downpours can actually jeopardize wheat crops and invite summer pest surges. Broadcasting from deep within America’s heartland, the discussion serves as a grounded voice of reason, cutting through the upbeat fluff of local news cycles to explain how specific weather patterns truly impact the elevator and the field.
S2E11 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut! In this episode, your hosts Roger Gattis and Jason Wheeler recap their recent trip to St. Louis for a grain merchandising workshop, enduring extreme winter weather and navigating the "climate" of the city. They highlight the value of interactive meetings over stagnant PowerPoint presentations, sharing insights from their sessions on making grain bins profitable and the importance of capturing a "return to space" in any market.
S2E10 - Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut! In this episode, your hosts Roger Gattis and Jason Wheeler are joined by the CEO of White Commercial, Phil Luce. Today, we dive into the harvest hours debate and the limitations of autonomous grain handling, then pivot to a deep analysis of farm bin profitability, arguing that the widely cited 25-cent return often neglects the vital cost of carry and quality risk.
S2E9 Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut! In this episode, your hosts Roger Gattis and Jason Wheeler are analyzing the intense harvest season, from viral videos of collapsing grain bins to the serious economic impact of bad crop quality. They look at the fundamental issues plaguing the rice and soybean markets. Is the talk about low prices and tariffs justified? They dig into the numbers to give you the real cash price picture.
Disclaimer: There is a risk of loss in futures and options trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
S2E8 Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut! In this episode, your hosts Roger Gattis and Jason Wheeler are joined by special guest Scott Hansen, a grain business legend with decades of experience. In this candid discussion, we dive into the frustrations many farmers are facing this harvest season, particularly with the historically low soybean basis. Scott shares a fascinating story about a conversation he had at church with some farmers who were concerned the market was "trying to steal their soybeans." We tackle common misconceptions about grain markets, explain why basis is a market signal (not a conspiracy), and reveal what really happens when an elevator's bids drop to "no bid."
S2E7 Join Roger and Jason on "The Elevator's Cut Podcast" as they dive into the current harvest landscape. Why are farmers selling even when prices are low? We'll discuss the massive yields emerging from the Southeast and how they’re affecting the market. We'll also break down the importance of harvest ownership for elevators and discuss why some grain is being sold "across the scale" despite low prices.
S2E6 Join Roger and Jason on "The Elevator's Cut Podcast" as they welcome back industry legend, Jeff Reardon! In this insightful episode, Jeff, a financial expert and CPA, dives deep into the current financial landscape for grain merchandisers and elevators. Discover why the industry is seeing impressive profits, even with changing market dynamics. Jeff shares his unique "dollars per bushel of space" metric for evaluating financial health, discusses the critical importance of harvest ownership, and explains why raising price later fees in a carry market is essential.
S2E5 Join hosts Roger Gattis and Jason Wheeler on this episode of The Elevator's Cut as they welcome back old friend and former grain elevator manager, Michael Kaeb of White Commercial. Michael, now a consultant for grain elevators across the western U.S. and Canada, shares his surprising observations about the vast diversity of crops—from milo and sunflowers to various wheat types—and the unique hedging strategies employed in these regions, including using corn futures to hedge barley.
The conversation then dives into common, often misused, phrases in the agriculture industry. Michael helps demystify expressions like "the way the market is right now" and "out of position," offering a candid look at what these colloquialisms truly mean (or don't mean!) in the fast-paced world of grain trading. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes peek at elevator life, including the unexpected challenges of painting wood paneling and hilarious college student excuses. Tune in for insightful discussions, industry anecdotes, and a few laughs!
S2E4 Welcome back to The Elevator's Cut, where Roger Gattis and Jason Wheeler cut through the misconceptions and complexities of the grain industry with a healthy dose of humor and pragmatism. This episode, they tackle the "joys" of corn planting season, dissecting USDA numbers and the ever-predictable weather chaos. They then dive into the wild world of grain spreads and basis trading, revealing why the math might make your head spin (and why your elevator isn't making a killing on price). Plus, get the inside scoop on why grain elevators actually make their money, and why co-op retirements are causing such a stir. And for the record, the internet has spoken: ranch is NOT a spread! Tune in for straight talk, funny takes, and maybe a few eye-rolls, all aimed at shedding light on the real challenges and opportunities in the grain business.
S2E03 What is the market really saying? Probably “good luck,” but we’re listening anyway. In this episode, Roger and Jason decode how merchandisers respond to spread structures, why everyone’s suddenly in love with averager contracts, and what to do when every farmer within 100 miles decides to grow corn. As always, no financial advice—just sarcasm, strategy, and survival tips from the merchandiser trenches.
S2E2 In this episode, Jason and Roger return from the road to unpack what they’re hearing across the industry—from farmer frustrations to merchandiser game plans. They dig into summer inversions, spread behavior that defies expectations, and the silent chaos of full bins before harvest. Also: co-op board decisions, pricing deadlines, and how bureaucratic policies somehow helped basis. If you’re in grain merchandising or AG logistics, this one’s for you.
S2E1 Who’s really pulling the strings in the grain market? The Grain Mafia? The speculators? The deep state? In this episode, Roger and Jason break down the latest rally, debunk some classic misconceptions, and take a closer look at why some folks think only farmers should be allowed to trade futures. Plus, we explore why certain pricing myths just won’t die and how elevators actually manage risk (hint: it’s not by guessing the top). Tune in for the usual mix of hard truths, sarcasm, and a few hot takes that might just get us canceled on grain Twitter.
How are basis traders looking at this recent harvest and the outlook for this season? We talk through the basics of what's going on, the importance of setting boundaries with customers, the value of space, why people hate Free DP so much, why the heck people hedge in the wrong months, and the prospects of setting up our own DOGE for the grain industry. A veritable cornucopia of zeitgeist delving after our recent hiatus.
The guys are back delving the Zeitgeists on all the latest bad basis takes. We discuss how basis may not actually have destroyed the country's infrastructure, how "trading like an elevator" may not be as glamorous as people think but still worthwhile, and what the heck is basis theft and basis fraud anyways.
If you'd like to hear how Christopher Columbus and CRT are related to basis trading, this is a good episode for you.
We are back with Part 2 for your harvest time listening pleasure. This time, with Special Guest, Susan Stroud of No Bull Ag (NO BULL (nobullag.com)). We delve into the Corn Sweat Zeitgeist, of course, but still have time to tackle the big topics of the 2024 fall harvest: rolling basis contracts, proactive selling to capture big carries, what's a "good price" and how does it change throughout the year?, logistics of a big crop, harvest marketing alternatives, and what's all this carbon intensity stuff mean?
It's that time again for some audio to help pass the long hours of harvest. The guys have a special guest, Michael Kaeb from IL, to share stories and have some fun talking about the more entertaining side of the grain business. From Chemtrails to damaged equipment to bathroom subscription services, we once again dare to delve where other podcasts refuse to.
0:00 Intro
3:10 Special Guest Introduction
9:05 Conspiracies -- Chemtrails/Flat Earth/ Corn Sweat/ Wildfires
18:00 Grain Truck Drivers -- Demographics/ Business Ideas/ Unfortunate Stories
37:40 Hired Hands at the Farm and Season Help at the Elevator
Do the fundamentals even matter anymore? Are the Spec Shorts covering their Longs? Why is this crop so big and prices so low? Mostly, what should we do now that nothing is sold and prices are worse? Finally, how should elevators be approaching the coming logistical crunch and capturing the value they should? As usual, the guys delve into these topics and have all the answers.
Help! I HTA'd myself and I don't know what to do!
Join us as we delve into the mysterious world of re-owning hedges and other recent agtwitter shenanigans.
The guys chat with Phil Luce about his ascension from spreadsheet guy to Spreadsheet CEO. What should we get out of charts? How did you learn the business? Can we have raises? All the important questions asked or implied. And of course, how should we interpret Cicadian Rythyms?
An Elite Peer Group of geographically diverse grain merchants join the show to share about their love for the grain business as well as their struggles and how they help each other through it all. Join us for a lively chat with Jake Lund from Wisconsin, Ben Nething from Ohio, and Michael Mock from Pennsylvania.
When is a random line more than just a random line? When somebody tells you it's important to look at, that's when! Join us as we delve into the obscure world of technical terms and tag along on our jaunt down the path of the psychology behind the contract names.
Basis Rolls, Fees, Huge spreads, and changes in selling patterns. We saw a lot of interesting developments with this crop, so we delve into how it all intertwined to create a zeitgeist stew of merchandising opportunities for the coming year.
Do you believe in conspiracy theories? Does Bigfoot have a cousin? Can Elevators charge double digit monthly DP fees? Grab your trench coat and listen to find out as the guys delve into the inner workings of elevator bids and fees, farmer marketing behaviors, and a little known mythical figure of the West Arkansas Ozarks.
An extended version of our normal podcast to help keep you company during the long hours of harvest. We mix in grain talk with a lot of our own personal preferences, stories, and strange perspectives from the universe. Timestamps of topics below.
0:00:35 - What is this episode?
0:04:30 - Convenience Store Food Options
0:21:43 - Gas Station Bathrooms
0:24:40 - Farm Marketing Discussion on Choices vs Decisions
0:37:25 - PowerPoint Presetations
0:43:43 - Brokers
0:57:57 - Bankers/Interest costs in the Grain Biz/ Spread Structures
1:05:02 - Cashless Society Conspiracy Talk
1:09:58 - Floor Traders/ Algos/ GMD (Farmer) Conspiracy Theories
1:16:48 - Flat Earthers
1:21:44 - Ufology/ Aliens
1:33:00 - Restaurant Food
1:55:01 - Food Stories of Mr. White
2:02:50 - Travel Hacks and Hotel Thoughts
The guys discuss their ideas on the upcoming crop merchandising year and touch on the secret to unmitigated success (probably) for the basis trader.
What do spreads and summer have in common? They both start with “S”, duh. In this episode the guys get back to the business of grain merchandising and delve into what the ongoing shift in corn spreads spells for the basis trader. (hint: it rhymes with “hairy”)
What makes Cooperatives great? What makes them struggle? We chat with retired Co-Op Veteran, Scott Hardy, to discuss all he has seen over the years with Boards, GMs, Mergers, Patronage, and more. Some high quality insight for anyone that interacts with a Co-Op with some entertaining and informative stories mixed in.
Lovingly and famously known as "The July 1st Story," friend of the show and grain industry mentor to many, Scott Hardy, shares his harrowing tale from his days on the road visiting grain elevators. Over his 40 years of creating, observing, and retelling the stories, this one may top them all. From transportation challenges to food reactions to medical emergencies to Jamaican Ukeleles, this one has it all.
Having exhausted this month's supply of market quips, the guys discuss the sayings of the grain biz that may or may not have any bearing on reality.
Roger recently listened to an insightful podcast which of course is a foreign concept to us, so Roger shared some of the big concepts from it and the guys discuss how these insights apply to our business. As a credit to Arkansas Public Schools, Jason learns what aphorism means and Roger learns what Zimbabwe is.
The guys are back from hiatus with a lively discussion on how merchandisers are coping with the current basis and spread environment and how that is affecting their plans for the next season. What should we be doing now? How should we be approaching the coming crop year?
We also announce our first ever shipment of Elevator's Cut T-shirts (sized M, L, XL) and what you can do to get one for yourself.
We delve into the farmer-elevator relationship from the perspective of the farmer with Kansas farmer, Adam Baldwin. What communication is the farmer looking for, what gets their attention, and how do they like to interact with their grain buyers?
The guys delve into the pressing challenges, opportunities, and ideas from the largest annual conference of exclusively basis traders in history. Some great concepts on managing your business and how we see it applied in the grain industry. They discuss a possible monumental shift in preferred snacks of the show as well as new podcast swag in the works.
What do GMD, Free DP, and Runza all have in common? This episode. Join us as we talk through it all and memorialize our 100,000th download.
The guys chat up Jared Flinn of Bulkloads.com and discuss the finer points of elevator/trucker relationships.
The guys were invited on stage at the NGFA's annual Country Elevator Conference in St. Lous. This episode is a live recording of the panel they hosted about the upcoming merchandising and financial challenges that this crop year holds. We chat with bankers and merchants about how best to approach the year.
The guys delve into some of the aspects of what separates the haves and have-nots among merchandisers during years with flat/inverted market structures.
Known to many as the nicest guy in the grain business, Dan shares his wealth of experience with us in this episode. He shares some stories from his decades in the commercial grain business and tells us about the importance of building and maintaining relationships throughout his career. Dan also fills us in on what the heck a data scientist is and how they will help our industry grow into the future.
The guys are back with some news! Big upcoming event details. Then we psychoanalyze some of the things we say in the grain business and why. Finally, we finish on some of the exciting basis trading stories from this harvest given the historic basis volatility.
The guys have a discussion with Susan David of No Bull (@SusanNOBULL) on the recent disruption in the barge freight market. What's causing it? How will it be resolved? Who is benefitting? And what does it all mean to the rest of us? She gives us a great breakdown of what is going on.
The guys chat with White Commercial CEO and Basis Guru, Phil Luce, about managing basis, spreads, and expectations in these crazy times.
In this episode the guys speculate about what they’re delve into on the episode just before they record the episode.... and are immediately proved wrong.
The guys connect via transoceanic technology to our friend and fellow elevator advocate across the pond, Dan Murphy, aka @GrainPirateDan, in the grain growing East Midlands region of England. Dan shares both the differences and similarities of the grain elevator business from his perspective, and we try to come to grips with a few cultural differences. So pour yourself a pint (just not of Stella) and enjoy!
The guys chat with Kellee James, CEO and Founder of Mercaris, to delve into the mysterious realm of specialty grains. If $42/bushel soybeans doesn’t grab your attention, we don’t know what will! Shout out to cauliflower rice for not sponsoring this episode.
The guys tackle springtime basis in light of inversions, and discuss what an elevator’s fee structure signals to farmers. Just remember kids, keep your eye on the ball, be you a merchant or a farmer… just understand which ball you really should be looking at. Also, pringles are great.
As we look forward to a summer of diminishing grain stocks with big inversions and a new crop year of little to no carry in the spreads, how the heck is anyone going to make any money and what should grain merchants be doing now to prepare? Also, how should farmers be approaching their marketing in this environment? The guys walk through the situation and outline the opportunities.
After some wild times following war news, the guys discuss why things happened the way they did in the cash market during days of locked limit up futures markets in Chicago. Why did people shift their bids to different months? Why were some not bidding at all? How should a farmer look at all of it? Was it all a cash grab for a big "elevator's cut" or were buyers just trying not to lose money?
The guys bring in Phil Luce, new CEO of White Commercial, to share his keynote talk about decision making during volatile times in the grain business. Celebrating Easter early, we put some Easter eggs at the end for you.
It's a Festivus Miracle! The guys are back with another episode. In this one we air our grievances about "knowing the markets," having a bunch of screens, and why people look at risk the opposite of the way Merriam Webster does. We also catch you up on some of our latest conferences and what's on our schedule for 2022. Hope to see y'all out there this year!
The guys discuss the latest ways to #winbasis from last summer.
Step 1: Volatility
Step 2: Derivatives
Step 3: ???
Step 4: #WinBasis
Once again, the guys welcome guest cohost and fellow GMD connoisseur, Susan David, to the show to do some analysis of the infamous Facebook page known on AgTwitter simply as GMD. We discuss some of our favorite posts and delve into the comment sections. Some good discussion on why people bid vs. different months, spreads, and how basis is used by grain buyers.
The guys welcome guest cohost and fellow GMD connoisseur, Susan David, to the show to do some analysis of the infamous Facebook page known on AgTwitter simply as GMD. We discuss some of our favorite posts, delve into the comment sections, and hopefully bring somewhat of a counter argument to the anti-merchandiser, anti-elevator mentality that pops up from time to time.
For this episode, we cross international lines to talk with the (in)famous Pete Archer from Maizieing Acres in Ontario. Pete tells us his personal story as a grain farmer and eventual commercial grain elevator and gives us great insight on how basis trading actually works when trading across borders and currencies.
The guys delve into the reality that bushels will likely be hunting for space this year, and what that means for the value of space amid the sad-trombone spread structure currently in place (hint: don’t pay too much for the basis!) They also get into the nitty gritty of the real cost of running a grain elevator and how your policies can help (or hurt) your ability to cover those costs. As always, the anecdotes are free for our valued listeners.
We are joined by University of Arkansas Professor, Dr. Mckenzie, to discuss the grain business and how he has been able to bridge the gap between academia and pragmatic cash grain trading through his career. He also shares with us his perspective about what qualities young people are looking for in an employer as they begin their careers (and it's not what you might think). Finally, we discuss his very intriguing work on the psychology of farm marketing.
We sit down with Fred Seamon, Executive Director of Commodity Research and Product Development at CME Group, to discuss all the buzz and consternation around the corners of the internet for the agricultural world. Of course, we also delve into the zeitgeist of this season. Fred sets us straight on how the commercial side is affected by HFT, algos, convergence, and more. And he does it all in a clear and simple way that even a couple guys from Arkansas can understand.
Long time friend of the show Jeff Reardon spends some time with us going over how the financial side of the business is handling this big rally year. He also tells us how commercial grain business margins are faring this year based on his unique analysis and metrics.
Ashley Bettenhausen (@TheFarmWifey) joins the guys all the way from up north to share her trials and triumphs as a female grain originator from a non-ag background. And of course, she sets the record straight on just exactly how proper spread terminology do.
What does grain merchandising, family business transition, and dog food have in common? More than you might think. Join the guys as Chad takes us down his professional pathway and sheds some light on that ol grain business chestnut, "its different around here."
(Spoiler Alert: it ain't)
It seems like all people in the grain business want is a rally, but why are so many people miserable right now? Your humble hosts delve into the zeitgeist of the big grain rally and discuss what's so difficult about it for the farmer and the commercial. Clear your schedule for half an hour and enjoy this episode nearly dubbed "The China Cut"
The guys chat with CEO/Co-Founder of Bushel Jake Joraanstad, and Chief Market Officer Camille Grade to discuss the way technology is improving the grain business. We hear about the story of this Fargo based Ag-Tech firm and what they are doing to make the grain elevator and farmer relationship more transparent and streamlined. We also discuss what's out there on the horizon for technology advancements in the years to come.
2020 has been the most unique year we’ve had in a while, and spreadz are not immune to this year’s wonkiness. While we haven’t seen this type of spread action in the grain biz in a few moons, they are not unheard of and in fact, once understood, flat & inverted markets can provide the astute merchandiser with both profit and fun. Probably.
Rodney Connor of Indigo Ag fields all the tough questions about how Indigo interacts with the grain business. As a former grain merchant in Northern IL, he acknowledges the company's past mistakes and explains their perspective moving forward and shifts they are making to try and be a valuable cog in the supply chain.
Family grain business operator, blogger, and friend Rob Cogdill of Cogdill Farm Supply in Dunlap, Iowa joins us to share his journey into the family business from the halls of academia, as well as some of the ways he’s been able to de-complicate grain merchandising. Find more info about Rob at www.cogdillfarmsupply.com and www.bullsheet.blog or on twitter @BullSheet_Blog.
The guys delve into all the zeitgeists that have folks riled up about visions of rallies to come this year. Join us as we discuss practical ways to digest the news without the need for all the antacid.
As always, thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Sample Buckets.
The guys discuss worst case scenarios for new crop this year and what commercial grain folks should be doing now to avoid trouble. As always, it’s not rocket surgery, but worth thinking through in a year where space could be more valuable than it’s ever been.
Today, we delve into the policies and contracts that haven’t had a great year (namely rolling basis contracts) and how to improve them in the future. We also get into some of the popular contracts for new crop and which ones you should be tweaking, eliminating, improving, or promoting in the current environment.
No bad tweets, but how about podcast interviews? Ohio grain originator and self proclaimed truck czar Benjamin Nething shares with us his thoughts on the grain biz. From the differences in working for a major vs. a family company, to keeping millennials engaged at the elevator, to the the bane of modern society that is social media, we cover it all.
Disclaimer: no bats were harmed in the recording of this episode...probably
In this episode the guys social distance with Scott Hansen, long time WCC employee and fixture of the Iowa school board world. Scott shares with us his take on what is and is not new in the grain business, as well as sharing a few of his stories from the road.
The guys hop on the line with Luke Swenson and Joe Solinger from Bushel to get learnt on how ag tech is being driven in the commercial grain business, all while adhering to proper social distancing guidelines. To learn more about how Bushel is helping the grain industry, please visit them at bushelpowered.com
We are joined once again by our compatriot Jeff Reardon to get a better grasp on what the Payroll Protection Program means for the grain business. Jeff also points out that just like buying and selling grain, when dealing with your lender everything is negotiable until you sign on the dotted line.
What does milo, popcorn, and a good understanding of farm marketing look like? Two words: Adam. Baldwin. Adam Baldwin (@iamyourfarmer) sits down with the guys to discuss the challenges of farm marketing and how he navigates basis and spreads as a farmer. He also discusses the key relationship with the grain elevator in his business and how they can best serve him in this time, including a discussion on elevator apps/websites. We also hear about his popcorn business he has started: Papabaldys.com
The guys delve into farm marketing meetings. Locations, size, content, and message. What makes a great one and what gets results? We share some memorable stories and experiences. The good, the bad, and the ugly...
We sit down to discuss what our first year of the show has been like with our most requested guest ever: Randy. He gives us the stats and pulls back the curtain on how the sausage is made. We also discuss ideas for the future on how to bring you, the listener, more of what you want.
As promised, in this episode the guys revisit the topic of spreads. Get your pencil and paper ready!
Join the guys as they host this episode in front of a live "studio" audience, where they interview attendees of the annual Master Management Conference hosted by White Commercial Corporation ( WCC, our employer and one true sponsor ). What makes the conference great? Why do people come back year after year? Does Randy think that WCC stands for "White Claw Convention"? Find out on this week's episode!
What do frozen sump pump pipes, show pig tanning beds and accumulators have in common? More than you might realize. Join us as we delve into the details of some of the most remembered grain cheats of the 21st century. And you thought 2019's discount schedules were a rip off!
Join the guys as they discuss their recent misadventures on the grain conference circuit.
The guys delve into the latest corn and soybean basis patterns for this unique crop year. It's a discussion on harvest basis values at different spots around the country, how they have differed from previous years, why basis has acted this way this year, and what actions grain merchandisers should be taking right now and in the months to come.
The Godfather, Tony Soprano, government statistic survey workers, that guy behind a trading screen in Chicago; what do these people have in common? Absolutely nothing. That is unless you're a social media tin hatter who believes in the Grain Mafia. Join us as we shed some light on this dark corner of the grain world.
TRIGGER WARNING: if you routinely participate in FB GMD proceed with caution!
Paying homage to the time honored saying "It takes money to make money", in this first episode of a two part series we delve into the mind of the elevator's lender. Jeff Reardon helps us prove that there's more to your banker than dollar signs in their eyes, and that despite the potential challenges, a successful season depends on a successful financing relationship.
Like sands through the hourglass, the days are drawing nigh for growers to take advantage of no-cost marketing alternatives for their 2019 fall crops. As an elevator, how do you both help farmers make wise decisions on cash flow & costs AND ensure your ability to generate suitable returns to your space? Delve with us to find out these answers and more!
On this episode, we sit down with Cullen Wilson of Dakota Plains Ag Center during the White Commercial Summer Conference. Cullen is lead originator and discusses his philosophy on origination and successful farm marketing as well as a new project he is working on as a resource for farmers in their marketing decisions.
https://grainmarketingstack.substack.com/subscribe
@cullenjwilson
www.dakotaplainsag.com
@DakotaPlainsAG
A continuation of the conversation we had previously with Brice Elnicki of Producers Cooperative Association of Girard Kansas.
We sit down with our good friend and creator of the first ever iTunes review of TEC, Brice Elnicki of Producers Cooperative in Girard, KS. In this first of a two part interview, we listen as Brice shares his experiences at grain companies large and small, as well as learn the best practices for unloading railcars of cement. We may or may not have confused "biannual" with "biennial" during the course of the episode, so please, no hate mail.
Many of us in the grain business know that one of the functions of the futures market is price discovery. Lesser known, however, is that price discovery is also a function of the astute grain merchandiser. In this episode we shed some light on how the country elevator can make markets both upstream for the farmer and downstream for the end user, all while getting paid for doing so.
Hedging in the wrong crop year is neither a new idea nor a good idea. In this episode, the guys delve into why this concept is the latest zeitgeist of the grain world, as well as what risks it carries for all parties.
Spreads are notoriously confusing, but no longer! Jason and Roger hash it out and go deep in this discussion on spreads and the like.
The guys sit down with Blake Early, founder and CEO of Agrihound to discuss the peculiar particularities of the interactions between farmer and buyer. If you'd like to learn more about Blake, his company or his grain contract education platform, we invite you to check out his website at agrihound.com.
In this episode, we rebut the standard views of basis trading and convergence offered by academia. We also discuss the expansion of High-Frequency and Algorithmic Trading and what it means to us in the actual grain trading business. As usual, we refuse to take ourselves as seriously as anyone in the categories mentioned above.
Just when you thought you couldn't win anymore basis, along comes the idea of "Full Basis". Join us as we discuss the finer points of how merchandisers actually DO (and DON'T) capture grain margins in the world of reality.
What is the Ag industry's favorite four letter word? Here's a hint... it starts with an "F"... And it's probably not what you think!
This is part 2 of our conversation with Scott Hardy, Grain Industry veteran. Join us for more laughs and deep insights!
Our guest this week, Scott Hardy, an industry veteran. Coincidentally, he's the man who brought Jason and Roger into the grain industry! He shares some funny stories from his time in the industry, and brings us more than a few laughs!
Today's guest is Damian Mason, a businessman, agriculturist, and host of The Business of Agriculture Podcast. He was a guest speaker at White Commercial's 2019 Master Management Conference for grain elevators. He sits down with us to discuss marketing from the perspective of grain elevator business owner This episode is fast and fun!
Subscribe to his podcast here: The Business of Agriculture Podcast
Learn More about Damian Mason here: https://www.damianmason.com/
In this episode we're joined by long-time White Commercial basis nerd Phil Luce. Here we attempt to answer the BIG question: Who sets the basis? Listen in to find out!
The biggest tragedy in the grain business today. We delve into how the misuse of existing market signals costs everyone opportunity and forces folks to seek the grain marketing equivalent of Shan-gri-la.
A fun and light hearted discussion about quirks of grain merchandisers and how those we love have to accommodate us. Submitted by a broad range of grain merchandisers. Part 2 of 2.
A fun and light hearted discussion about quirks of grain merchandisers and how those we love have to accommodate us. Submitted by a broad range of grain merchandisers. Part 1 of 2.
Successful grain traders have a few key things in common. This episode explores one of those: Creating Meaningful relationships with their farmers. We discuss how originators have successfully created a point of difference from their competition and turned that into an effective and profitable origination program.
Possibly the most misused idea in the futures industry. We delve into both the concept and the reality of how the markets truly converge.
Separating the vital few from the trivial many. We take a closer look at what info out there actually impacts the day to day profitability of basis traders.
What happens when you combine sensationalism, national elections and mountains of soybeans in the great north? Nothing short of an event that causes folks on the coasts to double down on their pity for fly over country.
Disrupty McDisruptface, or, how things aren't always as they seem. In this episode we gently hash out the age old maxim "if it ain't broke, disrupt it...then it'll break".
Created by some of the greatest basis traders to ever walk this planet, these simple rules cut straight to the core of what successful grain merchandisers should be about. We discuss what each one means to us with some real life stories.
Successful grain traders have a few key things in common. This episode explores one of those: Identifying opportunity in your trade area and beyond. We discuss the subtle things that go along with this as well as share some real world examples of how merchandisers have done this successfully.
An introductory episode of The Elevator's Cut where Roger and Jason capture the big topics and challenges of the grain industry with humor, pragmatism, and simplicity. With a few decades of combined experience in the basis trading, brokerage, and farm marketing spheres, they use their experiences and knowledge of their area of the grain business to shed some light on what they can, and debunk some myths and exaggerations that exist in the grain industry