Moe Russell

The 2011-2012 corn marketing year is approaching the halfway point. "At this time of year prospects for marketing-year consumption and ending stocks are often fairly clear and the market begins to focus more on new crop prospects. This year, consumption, stocks and price prospects are far from clear," says University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Darrel Good. "There is considerable uncertainty about the pace of consumption for the rest of year in each of the major categories. If anything, the uncertainty outlined two weeks ago has intensified."...More

What a difference a decade makes! Corn prices are up 300%, but so, too, are your two largest input expenses: land and fertilizer. For most of you, the 2012 grain crop will be the most expensive you’ve ever grown. On the other hand, profits also are up by 300%, to an estimated $75-150 profit/acre....More

Like corn and soybean futures and put options, calls are offered through the CBOT. You have to search a little more to find options prices, but they’re there. Put and call option prices premiums are listed, based on various futures quotes. According to CME, buying a call option “gives you the right, but not the obligation, to buy a product on the underlying futures contract at a specific price. The underlying futures contract is the one with the same delivery month as the option.”...More

The U.S. still commands pole position as the largest global soybean producer and exporter, contributing 33% of the world's total production and 40% of the world’s exports. But Argentina, now in third place in the export table, is catching up fast. It is already the world's largest exporter of soybean meal and oil....More