The markets have seen their share of ups and downs lately, making risk management all the more important.
One ag economist says all farmers need to go back to the basics.
“Let’s go back to some core basic strategies that we can pull out of the bag for our marketing plans. One of those is to recognize that, number one, you, as a farm manager, are not fast enough to chase the marketplace. Things are happening so quickly. The volatility is so high that you can’t chase the market, so the challenge is how do we try to get out in front of this?” said Frayne Olson.
Olson says farmers need to sit down and crunch the numbers, then decide what price they are willing to sell at.
“And a lot of that is based on your cost of production and the cost of storage. Those are things that you know and have much more direct control over.”
Olson adds that placing orders ahead of time can help you capitalize on acceptable prices, saying it helps avoid impulsive decisions during market volatility.
Shaun Haney joined us to discuss Canada’s new trade agreement with China, the potential impact on farmers and exporters, and what it could mean for U.S.–Canada trade relations going forward.
January 16, 2026 01:16 PM
·
The proposal signals a renewed push to offset tariff-driven losses, stabilize nutrition programs, and broaden eligibility for farm aid, though its path forward will depend on congressional negotiations.
January 16, 2026 11:58 AM
·
The application deadline is March 8, 2026. The 1890 National Scholars Program aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences.
January 16, 2026 10:42 AM
·
January 16, 2026 09:57 AM
·
Soft equipment sales signal cautious farm spending as producers prioritize cash flow over expansion.
January 16, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Wind repowering offers a rare opportunity to renegotiate outdated leases and improve long-term land income for landowners who act early.
January 16, 2026 06:00 AM
·
