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Farmer using multiple strategies to market grain

A Minnesota corn and soybean farmer is using multiple strategies to market grain.

Doug Albin of Clarkfield says some of his crops are pre-sold.

“It looked like an attractive price, and right now prices are well below the cost of production.  It’s really hard to look at selling anything that’s below the cost of production.”

He tells Brownfield trading options is a possibility.

“I’ll probably be looking at buying some call-options, just to give us an opportunity to take and enhance the price when it does finally start moving to the upside.”

Ultimately, Albin just wants to see what this year’s crop actually looks like.

“(the) Export markets; I expect they’re going to start opening up.  Falling price of oil (therefore) less impact on the railroads.  Maybe they’ll be a little more eager to haul corn and soybeans out of here.”

Albin says he has enough grain storage to hold the soon-to-be-harvested crop for up to a year, giving him more flexibility with marketing decisions.