1 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Odd Lots Podcast. 2 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: I'm Joe wi Isn't and I'm Tracy Halloway. Tracy, you know, obviously, 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: when we talk about inflation, which we talk about all 4 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: the time, a lot of the converse, a lot yeah, 5 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: has to do of course, with the macro monetary policy, 6 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: fiscal policy, the compensation for years of under investment in 7 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 1: key commodities or key industries. But it really does seem 8 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: like in some areas, I don't know if luck is 9 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: the right word, but there are some areas where things 10 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: are contributing to shortages that do seem like sort of 11 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:53,279 Speaker 1: like bad luck and not necessarily related to the economic 12 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 1: cycle directly. But here's the thing, So, yes, I agree 13 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: with you, but it feels like that bad luck just 14 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: keeps continuing, right. It feels like we've had a number 15 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: of specifically commodities at this point in time where we 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: talk about, oh, a perfect storm of factors have come 17 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: together to drive coffee prices higher, or wheat prices higher, 18 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: or soybean prices higher or whatever. And it's always sort 19 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: of different factors. Some of them have an underlying thing 20 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: in common, which would be the weather. But it just 21 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,600 Speaker 1: seems to keep happening, and I guess, yeah, it's weird, 22 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: and I guess it makes me wonder whether or not 23 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: there's something structural at play, like maybe when it comes 24 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: to certain commodities, something about the market is just less 25 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: resilient than it. You know, you're toetally right. I think 26 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: back to we probably had a number of episodes where 27 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: like the perfect storm in this so the perfect storm 28 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: and lumber, the perfect storm at the ports, and it's like, 29 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: if you keep having perfect storms over and over, right, 30 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: maybe they're just normal storms, and be they might reveal 31 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: so thing underlying that maybe about the market or about 32 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: the underlying good that it doesn't take much to wind 33 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: up in a perfect storm, because perfect storms aren't supposed 34 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 1: to happen all the time exactly. It pains me to 35 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: quote to lab but maybe there's a sort of anti 36 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: fragile thing happening here. But I think I think we 37 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: should dig into this, right and I think we should 38 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: look at a specific crop or commodity that has experienced 39 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: a perfect storm last year, And we talked about it 40 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:31,880 Speaker 1: back then, and I think the title of the episode 41 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: was actually a perfect storm for this particular crop with 42 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: the heat. And now fast forward to two and it's 43 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: even more of a perfect storm. You still have bad weather, 44 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: you still have subpar yields on crops, and now you 45 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: also have what's happening in Ukraine and Russia which is 46 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,679 Speaker 1: also eaten into the global market. So it's even more 47 00:02:54,720 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: of a perfect storm perfect or storm. Clear is that 48 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: plantings of wheat in the US and so just basically 49 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: the pace of new crop plantings has been really dismal 50 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: in which does not pretend good things for the wheat supply, 51 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: does not pretend good things for food inflation and food 52 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:20,519 Speaker 1: shortages to ease dramatically. So we're going to dig into 53 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: what's going on. So we're gonna return with uh, a 54 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: guest we've spoken to last year with the original perfect 55 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: storm in the space, we're gonna be speaking with Angie 56 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: sets Her. She is the co founder of Conscious r I, 57 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: which helps farmers manage their risk, hedge and so forth. 58 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 1: And so Angie, thank you so much for coming back 59 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: on Odd Lots, Thanks for having me. We're just talking 60 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: about how long it's been. It was just late last fall, 61 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,839 Speaker 1: but I'm pretty sure it's been a decade, uh, if 62 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: not more. UM in the egg space. Currently, it's what 63 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: it feels like. Last fall feels like a really long 64 00:03:56,160 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: time ago objectively, so we just uh time we had 65 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: you back, so uh planting for wheat, they're really dismal, right, yeah, 66 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: so spring wheat. So it's important to kind of one 67 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: of the fun things that I love about my job 68 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 1: is to be able to kind of educate or or 69 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 1: kind of give you insight into all of the wonderful 70 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: classes of wheat um. And So in Kansas City, in 71 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: the southern Plains, the Kansas City wheats what we call 72 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: it um it it the southern plains grows hard red 73 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,160 Speaker 1: winter wheat. And then in the eastern corn belt, so 74 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 1: east of the Mississippi down to the Gulf of Mexico 75 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: up into Michigan where I am, we grow soft red 76 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: winter wheat and soft white winter wheats. So we actually 77 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: have farmers plant in the fall um on the soft 78 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 1: red winter wheat side in the eastern corn belt here, 79 00:04:46,279 --> 00:04:48,559 Speaker 1: specifically here in Michigan and in some of the states 80 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: in the Great Lakes areas, they had a poor planting 81 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: progress or poor planting weather. Um last fall, we just 82 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: weren't able to get the swaybeans off in time to 83 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: get the wheat in in time. Winter kind of came 84 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 1: on a little early, so we saw a pretty significant 85 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: reduction in our acreage here um in Michigan and in 86 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: some surrounding states. In the southern plains, they're dealing with 87 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: the drought. So we can get to that later. But yes, 88 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: in the spring and wheat belt, which is actually the 89 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: most important because that's kind of where we really had 90 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: leaned heavily on a year ago, was okay, we we 91 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: can manage through. You know this of course before the 92 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: Russia Ukraine situation and some of these other things. You know, 93 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 1: we can really manage through with a tighter wheat crop 94 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: if we can make sure that the spring wheat crop 95 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 1: looks good. But we obviously had a major drought in 96 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: the Canadian prairies and into the spring wheat areas of 97 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 1: the United States. So spring wheats grown in Montana, North Dakota, 98 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:45,800 Speaker 1: parts of South Dakota, and uh western um Minnesota. And 99 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: so if if you look at a summary of rainfall 100 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 1: um leading up to about the first of April one 101 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: planting season would kick off, they had stayed um incredibly dry. 102 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: So in a you know, cruel twist of irony. We 103 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: started the year concern that we were going to see 104 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: continued drought development, and we had been so exceptionally dry 105 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 1: for so long we were nervous about what would take place. 106 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: So you know, in true mother nature form over what's 107 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: taken place the last couple of years, she brought all 108 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 1: of the rain that you would want to have seen 109 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,159 Speaker 1: in the six months prior in about six weeks time. 110 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: And so yeah, we've seen UM record UH delays and planting, 111 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: specifically in in North Dakota and in Minnesota. Most of 112 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: them we feel UM should be close to have being 113 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: able to catch up prior to final planting final insurance 114 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: planting dates the middle of this week. UM. There was 115 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 1: a lot of progress that has taken place, although it 116 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: took place in in less than ideal conditions and and 117 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: so some farmers are are crossing their fingers and holding 118 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: their breath that uh, we're we're able to see that 119 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 1: crop come up and and get a normal year of production. 120 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: So this is a really good reminder that there are 121 00:06:56,040 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: different types of wheat that are planted at different times 122 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: of the year and in different parts of the country. 123 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: Can you give us an idea of what yields actually 124 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: look like on some of those crops at the moment. 125 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 1: And my understanding is that the U. S Department of 126 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: Agriculture also grades the crops, you know, give some like 127 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: excellent designations or poor designations. What does it actually look 128 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: like right now? How bad is it out? Yeah, So 129 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: the softwad wheat belt, like I said, the eastern region 130 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: of the country, we're doing pretty good. Um. Things look good. 131 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: We continue to get reasonable rain, the wheat crops starting 132 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: to head out, um, and you want to see some 133 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: continued rain, um, you know, for the next couple of 134 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 1: few weeks here until we get closer to harvest. Here 135 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: in Michigan, we're the last ones in the Software wheat 136 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,119 Speaker 1: belt to to roll with harvest and that usually takes 137 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: place the week after the fourth of July. So the 138 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: Software wheat crop is used for cakes, doughnuts. You know, 139 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 1: we like to say that we're the fun crop. Um. 140 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: It's used for the fun stuff. Um. And the hard 141 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: read w crop is is really where a lot of 142 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: the condition ratings because the spring wheat crop is is 143 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: just getting planted, so we haven't had a chance yet 144 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: to to see what those look like. But the hard 145 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: red winter wheat crop UM in in the southern plains 146 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: is one of the worst rated crops um on record. Um. 147 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: As a result, the U. S d A has has 148 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: lowered yield expectations, you know, with with acreage and yield 149 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: expectations as is and the expected abandonment. So basically what 150 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: you could see farmers do is is they could come 151 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:31,559 Speaker 1: into spring and recognize that the stand of their crop 152 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: is is poor um and that the potential for the 153 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: crop is is below average, and they can then transition 154 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 1: into a different crop. They may choose to um, switch 155 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: to corn, maybe milo, maybe soybeans, depending on how planting 156 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 1: is going, something of that nature. Uh, sorghum. So yeah, 157 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: so we'll call it milow or sorghum, depending on where 158 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: you're at in the country. Um. So that's the that's 159 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: one of those fun Uh here in the industry we 160 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: call it milo, but yeah, it's sorghum. Um. They may 161 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: switch over that. Especially store gum is a very drought 162 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: tolerant crop. So if they're in the western portions of 163 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: Kansas and parts of Texas that haven't seen the amount 164 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: of rain that they had hoped for the Oklahoma Panhandle, um, 165 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: you know, you could see that transition take place. Um. 166 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: But yeah, so the crop is is one of the 167 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: worst rated on records the us D as a result, 168 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: you know, has come in um with yields that are 169 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: are well below average ten ten bushels are so preake 170 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: or below average expected in that hard red um winter 171 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: wheat crop area. Then as a result, we're looking at 172 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 1: one of the smallest um us winter wheat crops hard 173 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: red winter wheat crops specifically since the sixties. Um. So 174 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: we just keep you know, the hits keep coming, so 175 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: to speak. Now we're just getting started in harvest. And 176 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: so wheat is one of those things where a wheat 177 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,839 Speaker 1: trader will tell you that it takes a lot to 178 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: kill wheat, like after a nuclear bomb where to drop 179 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: you would have cockroaches and wheat, you know what I mean, 180 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: Like you just it's it's very difficult to kill wheat. Now, 181 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 1: it may not average yield by is what you're hoping for, 182 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: but you may get surprised when you get out into harvest. 183 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: And so we'll get a much better feel, um for 184 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: for what all we're seeing from a production standpoint here 185 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,679 Speaker 1: over the next three to four weeks as harvest starts 186 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: to progress to the north in the hard wheat belt 187 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: and and then the soft wheat belt. UM. But for 188 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: now it does look to be one of the smaller 189 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: crops that we've seen here in the US UM and 190 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: quite some time. Can you just put a few like 191 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,320 Speaker 1: numbers on this, like what is you know, like I 192 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: sort of I don't know the best way to aggregate it, 193 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: but total volume, total acreage or total number of bushels 194 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: what we would normally be looking for. How big a 195 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: part of the market it is, and then what the 196 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: shortfall is going to be if we're really having like 197 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:47,280 Speaker 1: one of the worst uh planting seasons, one of the lowest. Yeah, yeah, 198 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: I mean we're gonna want to pull up and and see. 199 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: You know. One of the benefits about the the hard 200 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: read winter wheat crop it it gets a lot of 201 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 1: conversation here um in the you know, and it gets 202 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: a lot of attention from the world market. Everyone tries 203 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: to pay attention, especially considering it it does set the stage. 204 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: One of the things that we have seen is the 205 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: U s d A has anticipated thanks to the increase 206 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: in price and and the tight available supply. So you've 207 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: seen the cash market or at least our export offers 208 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: really kind of outpaced the rest of the world, so 209 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: they have reduced export demand as a result, just because 210 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: we're more expensive. But to take it into you know, 211 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: kind of consideration there as to what you're looking at 212 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: in the world wheat crop or the world wheat supply, 213 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:31,840 Speaker 1: you know, compared to maybe where we were in two 214 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: thousand twenty even you know, production was about one point 215 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: eight three billion bushels. We're expecting it to come in 216 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: around one point seven three this year versus so I mean, 217 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: you're you're talking a hundred million bushel reduction and overall 218 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 1: wheat production, but you're seeing ending stocks, you know, deplete substantially. 219 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: For a short period of time there between about two 220 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: thousand fifteen into two thousand eighteen, you know, we saw 221 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: hard read winter weak trade below four dollars, you know, 222 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: more than once, and so that really kind of created 223 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: this environment in which the farmers that traditionally would grow 224 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 1: wheat looked other crops, especially you know, speaking of milo 225 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: or sorghum. You saw this continue, this big increase in 226 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,559 Speaker 1: Chinese sorghum demand, and so you saw a lot of 227 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 1: folks really just kind of transition away so you saw 228 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: people transition away, you saw plantings getting smaller. You know, 229 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: as we worked our way into two thousand one, you know, 230 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:29,600 Speaker 1: you saw a reduction in in area harvested. You see 231 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: another reduction in area harvested this year, especially because of 232 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: the increase in band an abandonment. You know. But one 233 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: of the things that we're seeing is when you break 234 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: it down per class, that's when you know the noticeable 235 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: reduction and supply becomes clear. You know, at one point, 236 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: hard red winter wheat was flirting with you know, above 237 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: five million, close to a billion bushell carry out. That's huge, 238 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: that's that's considered burdensome. Now this year they're expecting carry 239 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 1: out to be around three hundred and sixty million bushels. 240 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: So it definitely is very evident. And as a result, 241 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: you're seeing the farmer and the commercial elevators in those 242 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: regions become very protective of the supply that they have 243 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: on hand. And really, we we kind of joke in 244 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: the US wheat industry, like the our job is to 245 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: keep our wheat expensive enough to where maybe it doesn't 246 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: fly off the shelves into the global market, um simply 247 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:25,679 Speaker 1: so we can make sure that we have enough at 248 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: home to to manage our feed use if we were 249 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: to run into a production issue down the road, another 250 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 1: production issue down the road at this rate. So this 251 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: was kind of going to be my next question. So 252 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 1: what typically happens in a tight market for a specific crop? 253 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: Do you see farmers start to attempt to grow other 254 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,599 Speaker 1: things like storkam which you already mentioned, And does the 255 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: US tend to try to keep those goods at home 256 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,360 Speaker 1: or those commodities at home rather than export them, And 257 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: what other options are available to farmers and the industry 258 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: to try to offset a bad harvest. Yeah, um, so 259 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: we'll see that. We we tend to see it in 260 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: the cash market. So I always I'm a cash trader. 261 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 1: I'm a physical trader. You know. My job is to 262 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 1: to get bushels from the farmers that I work with 263 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: that produced them to the end users that need them, 264 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: you know. And so I I live in the cash 265 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: market every day. And I will tell you the cash 266 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: market is is king no matter how you slice it. 267 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: Whatever the cash market is doing is it will eventually 268 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: transition into futures and in some way, shape or form 269 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: or at the very least, the cash prices is gravity, 270 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 1: especially in wheat. So, but if we do run into 271 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,040 Speaker 1: a situation where we have a question regarding what production 272 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: looks like, you know, one of the first steps that 273 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: you see is, as I indicated before, everyone kind of 274 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: pulls their arms and legs inside the vehicle. Okay, we 275 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: we we wait, you don't you try to assess the market. 276 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: You let someone um other than you potentially put on 277 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: a couple of trades or make a couple of trades 278 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: to get a good feel as to what the actual 279 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: cash value is. So futures can trade um one price 280 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: uh and depending on what the local supply and demand 281 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: is or what the regional supply and demand is in 282 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: a in a specific location surrounding a specific end user, 283 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: you know you'll see a basis, which is that difference 284 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: between cash price and future Sometimes it trades as at 285 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 1: a premium, some times it trades at a negative. But 286 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: so what you'll tend to see is is one of 287 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: the first things that happens is the folks that tend 288 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: to traditionally do the selling, whether that's an elevator or 289 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: a farmer. If a crop scare comes about, we stop selling. 290 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: Like that's just human nature, right. If you don't know 291 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: what you're going to have going forward, you stop selling. 292 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: So then the market's job becomes getting it to a 293 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: high enough value to where it entices a pickup and selling. So, 294 00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: whether that's a enticing a farmer to liquidate his or 295 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: her bushels at a certain price, maybe it's a you know, 296 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: the farmer has an eight dollar target order in mind, 297 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: or something of that nature. You know, whatever it will 298 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: take to get to those values to really kind of 299 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,160 Speaker 1: entice the farmer or entice the elevator. So there's a 300 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: whole host of things you'll have to be able to 301 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: offset or or you know, provide in in the market 302 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 1: price itself, you know. And so that's what you'll see 303 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: is is folks will start to discuss the basis is 304 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: increasing and that spreads are you know, spreads are tightening. 305 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,360 Speaker 1: So the other thing is is that spreads will no 306 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: longer incentivize you holding the product out of the pipeline. 307 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 1: You know, they're going to punish you for doing so. 308 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 1: So traditionally, in the commercial elevator business, you know, you 309 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: see what we call carry um or contain go and 310 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: you know, if you're your fancy, we just call it 311 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: carry because we're not you know, so you'll see you 312 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: typically we see carry i e. The market isn't paying you, 313 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 1: we're providing you incentive to keep it out of the pipeline. 314 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 1: The opposite comes true if if it looks like you're 315 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: going to have a short crop. So one of the 316 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: things that we pay attention to, you know, not only 317 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: is basis whether or not the end user is paying 318 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: more or less yesterday, but what are the spreads doing, 319 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: because that will give us an insight into whether or 320 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 1: not you could see supply come into the pipeline. And 321 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: so yeah, I mean the first big step that has 322 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: taken as you just stop selling, which is what we 323 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: saw take place in India right like, the concerns started 324 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: to develop that we were selling too much. We were 325 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: uncertain as to what we were going to have come 326 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: into play for new crop, and so the government said 327 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: weld on, you know, we're going to take some time now. 328 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,160 Speaker 1: They did it through measures that you know or are 329 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: seeing in a more government centric UM agricultural production system, 330 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: whereas in the US, UM traders tend to to uh 331 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: manage their own reduction and market exposure, you know, i e. 332 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 1: They make their bids really or their offers really expensive. Um, 333 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: the end users may firm up bids, you know, things 334 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: of that nature. But um, we just kind of become 335 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: we start to play chicken, you could say, Um, when 336 00:17:58,960 --> 00:18:02,840 Speaker 1: it comes to purchase and sales. What is the shape 337 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 1: of the futures curve right now? I mean we know 338 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 1: that a lot of uh, at least you know, up 339 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 1: until very recently. I can't remember the last time I look, 340 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: but all around the world, whether we're talking about egg 341 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: or metals or energy commodities, we have seen this sort 342 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: of like front month, uh, you know, high premium in 343 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: the front month. What is the shape now of the 344 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:29,679 Speaker 1: wheat futurest curve? And what is it indicating? That's the 345 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: ironic part um. You know, you pull up the shape 346 00:18:33,119 --> 00:18:36,479 Speaker 1: of the wheat futures curve um, and we saw it go. 347 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know how much attention folks paid 348 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: to to what the market had done here. Um. Upon 349 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: the news of the invasion, we saw some pretty substantial 350 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 1: inversions um or backwardation developed to where you saw the 351 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: July dece you know, go to a two dollar inverse. 352 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,359 Speaker 1: I mean just something that was just absolutely obscene, something 353 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: that we had never seen. Um, happened before. And as 354 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: a result, it kind of lou um a lot of 355 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 1: elevators out of the market because they they right, like 356 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: so that I was gonna I was gonna ask like 357 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 1: their business must be premised on the idea that like 358 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 1: you know, you hold, they hold right, or they hold 359 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: they hold grain, and if you hold it, you know 360 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: it's grain is priced more valuable in a few months 361 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,160 Speaker 1: or a year or whatever it is, and you get 362 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,679 Speaker 1: some sort of I guess, as you said, carry, But 363 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,879 Speaker 1: it's got to be a terrible business in the opposite 364 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,959 Speaker 1: when there's such a premium currently. Yeah, yeah, And and 365 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: that's what you saw. You saw wheat elevators of flour mills, 366 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,719 Speaker 1: you know, they just basically withdrew bids. So the farmer 367 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,639 Speaker 1: was very frustrated in the sense that the board was 368 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 1: rallying twelve fifty dollars for Chicago wheat and the end 369 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,159 Speaker 1: users and processors with drew bids. As a result, you know, 370 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,480 Speaker 1: of of the cash market again going back to the 371 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: cash market just basically being destroyed um by that move 372 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 1: in futures, you saw a lot of activity, You saw 373 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: a lot of folks sleeve. You've seen the spread zone wine. 374 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: So ironically, you know, a lot of folks are talking 375 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,440 Speaker 1: about how wheat is the most bullish commodity out there, 376 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,199 Speaker 1: you know, it's the one thing that we tend to 377 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: hear the most about. But when you look at the spreads, 378 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: they're they're painting substantial carry or what has traditionally been 379 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: solid carry um for the last several years, at least 380 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: out into the march board um, you know, when you're 381 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: looking at the Chicago crop um, and even out into 382 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: the march board when you're you're looking at the Kansas 383 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: City crop um, and so you know, there there's carry, 384 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: there is incentive to hold the crop. But I think 385 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 1: that's more to do with the fact that the global pipeline, 386 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:34,720 Speaker 1: or our export business, or our delivery system, you know, 387 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: simply couldn't handle all of the wheat coming off at 388 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: harvest time, you know. And you could say the opposite 389 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:42,959 Speaker 1: is true and corn and soybeans, where they're pretty heavily 390 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: inverted old crop um to new crop um. Just you know, 391 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: especially I think considering the fact that for wheat, the 392 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 1: new crop year starts on Wednesday, So for wheat um, 393 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 1: we have a June to June, and so we're basically 394 00:20:57,560 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: ending up. We know what we we did for for 395 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: old prop we have an idea of of what will 396 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: be left over at the end of the year. And 397 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: now we're we're facing you know, a new crop coming 398 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: in full bins. Hopefully even with a smaller crop, you know, 399 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: you're still going to have a lot to take off, 400 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: um you know, early on in the season. And so 401 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: that markets providing some incentive and and providing um, you know, 402 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: end users elevators, flour mills, you know, a way of 403 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: of capturing some incentive to to keep that stuff out 404 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: of the pipeline, and that's helping to keep basis firm 405 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: for the farmer. So what happens to sort of end 406 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: user prices in this type of scenario, So for instance, 407 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,959 Speaker 1: the hard red wheat that we use for bread and 408 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 1: things like that, do bread makers, does the price of 409 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: bread immediately go up because the spot price the input 410 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: cost goes up or is there some sort of hedging 411 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: activity where they might have, you know, um forward, purchased 412 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: their wheat needs a year before at a lower price. 413 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 1: Like how much of it actually feeds through into consumer 414 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 1: goods and the things that we eat on a day 415 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: to day basis Yeah. On the plus side, you know, 416 00:22:06,240 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: the cost of wheat for a flour miller is actually 417 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,560 Speaker 1: a very small I think it's less than a it's 418 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: less than a third of the cost of the overall 419 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: loaf of bread. Um. You know, all of the other 420 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: factors come into play, the transportation and the staffing, the equipment, that, this, 421 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: that and the other thing, and so it really isn't 422 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: a direct correlation. Of course, during times of inflation, all 423 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 1: other costs are increasing, so it's easy to say, Okay, 424 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: well the cost of wheat is up x per cent, 425 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,320 Speaker 1: so obviously the cost of bread needs to go up 426 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: as well. But that's not necessarily the case. Now you 427 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 1: are seeing folks that didn't hedge. You know, traditionally you'll 428 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,439 Speaker 1: see the majority of your wheat users in the United 429 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: States at the very least have a very um deep 430 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 1: and very experienced trading desk. So they're not just sitting there. 431 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: You know, what was me, I didn't realize the price 432 00:22:57,080 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: of wheat was going up. They're able to hedge, you know, 433 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 1: they're able to make their purchase says, book their basis levels, 434 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: maybe trade their futures. They may own options against certain 435 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: market moves and things of that nature, you know. So 436 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:12,440 Speaker 1: there's somewhat isolated. Um. But when you know, Russia invaded 437 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: and you saw the market just surge um limit higher 438 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:19,400 Speaker 1: day after day after day, you did see them stop. 439 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 1: You know, they were looking at you know, as a 440 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: wheat miller, um, you know, not a flower end user. 441 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: The wheat miller was looking at making a substantial amount 442 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: of purchases in the July and and looking down the 443 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 1: barrel of a dollar fifty, you know, in version. And 444 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 1: so there was a lot of frustration for folks that 445 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,160 Speaker 1: you just simply saw them step out, um step away 446 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: from the market, you know. And and so in times 447 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: of extreme volatility and concern, we have seen that happen. Now, 448 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: obviously it can't last long term, um, you know. And 449 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 1: for that reason, a lot of these folks have have 450 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 1: managed to to hedge some of their risk, or at 451 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:58,320 Speaker 1: the very least are are insulated from a good portion 452 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 1: of it. But it gets concerning, um, you know, when 453 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: you see big moves like that, and in extremely volatile prices, 454 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: you know, you start to worry about who your your 455 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 1: end user is or how they're protecting there there there risk. 456 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: So I want to sort of ask you about what 457 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: Tracy and I were discussing in the intro, which is 458 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 1: is there some underlying frailty that's been exposed in the 459 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:39,719 Speaker 1: U s AD market or the AG market overall. I mean, 460 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 1: we talked about this idea. It's like, Okay, we can 461 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,080 Speaker 1: talk about perfect storms and this crazy weather that we've 462 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: got such that we had two years of drought and 463 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,399 Speaker 1: then we got six months of rain all in six 464 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,760 Speaker 1: weeks and so forth. And so obviously in any macro 465 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 1: environment that is going to rea havoc when the weather's 466 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,680 Speaker 1: uh that unpredictable. But is there so thing else that's 467 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: being exposed here in your view, like if you sort 468 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 1: of zoom out the fact that we've seen such volatility, 469 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,119 Speaker 1: such high prices and so forth, that is really just 470 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 1: like cannot be sort of explained by bad luck or 471 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,919 Speaker 1: perfect storm. Yeah, uh yeah, I think, you know, to 472 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,600 Speaker 1: a certain extent. I think one of the things that 473 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:25,719 Speaker 1: we've seen, um, you know, really kind of become crystal 474 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: clear here as of late, is is the idea that um, 475 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:33,199 Speaker 1: you know, we've we've transitioned from you know, what the 476 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: US used to be the bread basket of the world, um, 477 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: and when we we ran into ethanol, and when we 478 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: had the drought in twelve and prices ran up, and 479 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 1: you know, I think the agricultural UM folks, the higher ups, 480 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: the elevators and you know your A, B, C, D 481 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: S and grain and your you know, your egg input 482 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: suppliers and your your equipment suppliers and some of these 483 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: things started to recognize that there was a huge amount 484 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 1: of opportunity um around the world for far better margin 485 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: than they could ever achieve in the in the United States. 486 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: And you saw this massive expansion and and uh, you know, 487 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,480 Speaker 1: the globalization of our our food supply, which is great. 488 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: We need it to happen. We we have to have 489 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: it happen, UM. But I think you know, one of 490 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: the reasons that we're running into this situation, you know, 491 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,119 Speaker 1: with with your your Middle Eastern countries and your your 492 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: North African countries, and the concern over what takes place, UM, 493 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 1: you know there is is because they were so heavily 494 00:26:27,960 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 1: reliant upon one supplier. UM. You know, over sixty of 495 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,439 Speaker 1: their purchases were made from Ukraine, which is great, but 496 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:39,000 Speaker 1: it's not great when something happens in the supply. Now 497 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,880 Speaker 1: granted you we haven't had a lot of just wars 498 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: just break out randomly in our our food producers. So 499 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 1: maybe you know, you didn't expect that to take place, 500 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 1: but you know, I would say one of the things 501 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 1: that this has really kind of put a spotlight on is, 502 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: you know, for one, what it is that China is doing. 503 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:58,399 Speaker 1: And I don't think that even can be answered. You know, 504 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,159 Speaker 1: part of the reason that spurred all of this was 505 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 1: the substantial move by China to to really kind of 506 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 1: increase their government stockpiles. You know, there are exports increased. 507 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: You know, gosh, you can't even say how how big 508 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 1: their exports increased, because we went from basically what was 509 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: zero to twenty eight million metric ton of of corn imports, 510 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 1: you know, last year from China. You know, they're looking 511 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 1: to to import twenty three million metric tonue, I mean, 512 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,919 Speaker 1: and and prior to that baseline, you know, max was 513 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 1: was a handful you know, a few metric ton and 514 00:27:27,840 --> 00:27:32,119 Speaker 1: so that that really changed the global pipeline and I 515 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: think it kind of put um highlighted the power that 516 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: China has when it comes to global logistics and global 517 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:43,359 Speaker 1: pipelines and global demand and all of these things, you know, 518 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:45,399 Speaker 1: And I would say that's That's probably one of the 519 00:27:45,440 --> 00:27:49,719 Speaker 1: biggest is that you know, prior to this excessive, exceptional 520 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,000 Speaker 1: increase in Chinese demand, and we were actually talking about 521 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: burden some stocks. I mean in the head of the 522 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: fall of two thousand twenty, you know, going into late 523 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: twenty before every was really paying attention to grains. You know, 524 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: we were looking at the potential of a three billion 525 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: bushel corn carry out, which is almost three times what 526 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 1: some folks are expecting for this year's carry out. You know, 527 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,400 Speaker 1: we were talking carry out yep. So when we were 528 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 1: done at the end of every year, we have enough 529 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 1: left over to get us into new crop production. So 530 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:20,760 Speaker 1: my entire life is always revolving around what are ending 531 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 1: stocks or carry out, what is that going to look like, 532 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: how much are we gonna have left over at the 533 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: end of next year, what does that mean for for 534 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: a new crop production and demand? And then what will 535 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:31,920 Speaker 1: we have left over at the end of that year? Um. 536 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: And that's simply what we pay attention to in grains. 537 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,280 Speaker 1: But yeah, so prior to that big increase in Chinese demand, 538 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: you know, we were kind of worried about what we 539 00:28:41,880 --> 00:28:45,160 Speaker 1: would be looking at, you know globally. Um, when it 540 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: came to burdens own burdens some stocks. Now of course 541 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: you saw you know, major production issues in Brazil back 542 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,280 Speaker 1: to back. You know, Larnina looks like it's poised to 543 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: to make a third appearance, and that tends to read 544 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: havoc on South American weather. Um, it tends to cause 545 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 1: droughts in the southern planes, you know, things of that nature. 546 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:04,840 Speaker 1: But I would say, you know, probably one of the 547 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 1: biggest things that this market move is is trying to 548 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: spotlight on, is is just you know, how vulnerable we 549 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 1: are in the free market to to someone kind of 550 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: stepping in and and taking I don't want to say 551 00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,959 Speaker 1: more than their share, because it's an inadequate statement, you know, 552 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: to use, but you know, we're somewhat vulnerable to to 553 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: some folks just kind of stepping in and saying, you know, hey, 554 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: we'll take this. It's cheap, we're gonna take all of it, 555 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,080 Speaker 1: thank you, and then other countries saying we want to 556 00:29:32,120 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: avoid that person coming in or those folks coming in 557 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 1: and taking everything, so we're going to restrict our our exports. 558 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:42,440 Speaker 1: So we just really saw this whole entire flip, you know, 559 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: in in global availability, you know, due to the fact 560 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,800 Speaker 1: that China really kind of stepped in and started soaking 561 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,239 Speaker 1: up every piece, every kernel of feed grade and they 562 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:55,520 Speaker 1: could get you know, around the world. Yeah, this is 563 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: something we actually recorded a whole episode on this with 564 00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: Scott Irwin. I think it was one of the episodes 565 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:05,680 Speaker 1: that we did, yeah, about China buying up and building 566 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 1: up its stockpiles. But so, I guess a natural question 567 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 1: here is what can countries do in order to ease 568 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: this kind of tight supply. So we've already seen a 569 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: cutback on exports. I've seen some talk about things like 570 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 1: subsidies for farmers, but there seems to be debate over 571 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: whether or not those could actually make the problem even 572 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: worse because people would be incentivized to just not grow anything. Um. 573 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 1: And this is sort of a classic criticism of subsidies. 574 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: But what exactly could be done here? What sort of 575 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: policies would help? Um? I think it's so hard. I 576 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:46,920 Speaker 1: mean it really outside of of improving weather or incentivizing 577 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 1: you know, and maybe that is through through subsidies or 578 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 1: something of that nature, you know, which we've seen. I mean, 579 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,600 Speaker 1: we've we've helped farmers with crop insurance. It's been one 580 00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 1: of the things that that we've seen as of late 581 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,280 Speaker 1: is is, you know, some conversation about whether or not 582 00:30:59,280 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 1: crop insurance hinders the farmer or incentivizes the farmer not 583 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:05,000 Speaker 1: to plant. You know, one of the things that would 584 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: point out in that conversation is the current crop insurance 585 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: support price for December twenty two corn is a dollar 586 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:14,120 Speaker 1: thirty dollar forty below where the market is currently trading. 587 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: So the market is going to incentivize a continuation of planting. 588 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:19,840 Speaker 1: That's going to be the market's job, even if that 589 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 1: crop insurance prices is below. So helping provide that safety 590 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,680 Speaker 1: net via crop insurance or something of that nature to 591 00:31:26,680 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: where as long as the producers is putting in um 592 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,320 Speaker 1: a good faith effort to to get that crop planted 593 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: and a good faith effort to make sure that they're 594 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: they're doing all that they can to try to produce 595 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: is large of a crop as what they possibly can. 596 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: You know, I think that would help around the world 597 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 1: for a lot of folks, And I think you're seeing 598 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:46,360 Speaker 1: countries introduce that. You saw China um basically credit the 599 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 1: turn of their winter wheat crop to the millions of 600 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: dollars that they poured into farmers in certain provinces to 601 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: make sure that they were fertilizing and using fun decide 602 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,200 Speaker 1: and doing everything they could to kind of maximize production. 603 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:01,680 Speaker 1: To me, I think the market is going to do 604 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: its job as long as mother nature cooperates. Um. You know. 605 00:32:04,840 --> 00:32:07,040 Speaker 1: I think one of the things that you know you're 606 00:32:07,040 --> 00:32:09,480 Speaker 1: seeing right now is you're you're seeing December twenty three 607 00:32:09,520 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 1: corn trading near six fifty. You know, you're seeing crop 608 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: prices for for next year's harvest eighteen months from now. Um, 609 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: you know, trading at at relatively high levels. Wheat for 610 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: next year at a eleven dollars and fourteen cents, you know. 611 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,680 Speaker 1: So I think the market will do the job to 612 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 1: incentivize I think you'll see some continued expansions in South America. UM. 613 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,560 Speaker 1: I think you'll, you know, as as long as farmers 614 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: are continue to be incentivized here in the US, you're 615 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:37,400 Speaker 1: going to see them, you know, roll past final planting 616 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: dates of whether allows it and some of these other things, 617 00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 1: because the market price says, you know, you should be planting. Um. 618 00:32:43,680 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: And so I think that's the main thing. Just providing 619 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:49,040 Speaker 1: a safe place to land if there were to be 620 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 1: a major weather issue is probably one of the best 621 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:53,239 Speaker 1: things they could do. Can you talk a little bit 622 00:32:53,280 --> 00:32:57,239 Speaker 1: about what's happening on the input cost side UM with 623 00:32:57,400 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 1: your client? Of course, a big story of last year 624 00:33:00,720 --> 00:33:03,880 Speaker 1: has been the surge and the cost of fertilizer UM, 625 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:07,560 Speaker 1: although there was it was actually Bloomberg story yesterday about 626 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:10,920 Speaker 1: actually a significant pullback in the last month. But what 627 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: are the different input costs or the primary input costs 628 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,240 Speaker 1: for your clients and what do you see happening there. 629 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: Has there been any sort of like stabilization improvement, et cetera. Yeah, 630 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 1: I think one of the biggest things we've seen is 631 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 1: everyone kind of breathed a sigh of relief in the 632 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: sense that there was a real concern that we were 633 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:32,320 Speaker 1: going to have shortages. UM. No one that I've seen 634 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:35,480 Speaker 1: or heard from across the country is has really run 635 00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:38,440 Speaker 1: into a situation where if a farmer needed a fertilizer, 636 00:33:38,720 --> 00:33:40,840 Speaker 1: you know, of of of a certain type, that he 637 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: or she couldn't get ahold of it. Prices have increased exponentially. 638 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:47,840 Speaker 1: Of course, in that UM their record high. They they 639 00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:50,280 Speaker 1: have stayed well elevated beyond when a lot of folks 640 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,120 Speaker 1: thought that they would UM. So that's created some concern, 641 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 1: but you've also seen, as we talked about before, you know, 642 00:33:56,520 --> 00:34:00,320 Speaker 1: the car market basically has rallied almost two dollars fallen 643 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:02,719 Speaker 1: off a bit as as of late, but it had rallied, um, 644 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:05,880 Speaker 1: you know, a dollar after the the invasion um and 645 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,040 Speaker 1: another dollar after the Planning Intentions report. So you saw 646 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: a pretty substantial increase in the amount of money that 647 00:34:12,640 --> 00:34:15,280 Speaker 1: the farmer can get out of an acre of corn. 648 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:18,240 Speaker 1: You know, you can multiply seven dollars and in thirty 649 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: cents times anywhere between a hundred and fifty to two hundred, 650 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:24,799 Speaker 1: to get a good feel for what a revenue, um, 651 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: what kind of revenue of farmer is looking at. So 652 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 1: there is room now obviously that's gross revenue, and there 653 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,000 Speaker 1: all of the costs that continue to pile up, you know, 654 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,360 Speaker 1: really kind of put us in a situation to where 655 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 1: we're working harder, we're laying out way more cash than 656 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:41,799 Speaker 1: we ever have before for the same hope of the 657 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:44,239 Speaker 1: same margin. And so that's one of the things that 658 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,879 Speaker 1: it feels as though the cash outlay being as high 659 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: as what it was and being increased as much as 660 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,080 Speaker 1: what it was, has put us in a situation to 661 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:55,040 Speaker 1: where there's far more stress this early in the marketing 662 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:57,160 Speaker 1: year to make sure that the farmer gets it right. 663 00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 1: You know. Obviously they don't want to sell too soon 664 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,040 Speaker 1: and and miss out on a major rally if we 665 00:35:02,040 --> 00:35:04,240 Speaker 1: were to see some sort of drought developer or something 666 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:06,200 Speaker 1: like that. But they don't want to not sell and 667 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,800 Speaker 1: watch the market fall back to crop insurance or lower, 668 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:11,040 Speaker 1: you know. And and so it's it's put us in 669 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:14,799 Speaker 1: a pretty tight situation here where we've we've outlaid a 670 00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 1: more cash than we ever have before and and created 671 00:35:17,719 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: you know, far more worry than we ever have either 672 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: as well. Huh, So what should we be watching for 673 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:27,600 Speaker 1: in terms of signs of improvement? Like what are some 674 00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:30,439 Speaker 1: things are indicators that we should keep our eye on. Well, 675 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,319 Speaker 1: we really want to watch what the weather does here 676 00:35:32,640 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: for the next four to six weeks, specifically for corn 677 00:35:36,680 --> 00:35:38,719 Speaker 1: and for wheat. You know, but wheat harvest is gonna 678 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:41,279 Speaker 1: get started or has started in Texas, is going to 679 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 1: get started, and so we'll want to see, you know, 680 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:45,319 Speaker 1: really kind of pay attention or at least I'll be 681 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,879 Speaker 1: paying attention to to what those cash markets look like, 682 00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:50,840 Speaker 1: what takes place, you know, what the reports are you know, 683 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 1: from a yield standpoint, but from from from someone on 684 00:35:53,160 --> 00:35:55,279 Speaker 1: the outside looking in. The biggest thing that that I 685 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 1: would recommend, you know, really kind of paying attention to 686 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: is obviously what developments we see in the Rush Ukraine situation. 687 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:03,439 Speaker 1: You know, where we've we've never seen it to where 688 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:07,320 Speaker 1: we have upboards of sixty five million metric ton potentially 689 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:10,360 Speaker 1: you know, sitting in countries that you know habit but 690 00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:12,000 Speaker 1: may not be looking to ship it or may not 691 00:36:12,040 --> 00:36:14,279 Speaker 1: be able to ship it into the global market. So 692 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:16,640 Speaker 1: if we see a shift in that, things will change. 693 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 1: If we see these humanitarian corridors open, if we see 694 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:22,640 Speaker 1: some rollbacks you know potentially on the sanctions that Russia's 695 00:36:22,680 --> 00:36:24,920 Speaker 1: asking for something of that nature, you know, that's going 696 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:27,759 Speaker 1: to have a huge influence on global supply. The other 697 00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:30,560 Speaker 1: thing is obviously whether through the month of June into 698 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:35,000 Speaker 1: July we want to see decent rain, not too heavy, 699 00:36:35,200 --> 00:36:38,239 Speaker 1: and warm temperatures, you know, but not too warm. So 700 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 1: it's that's gonna be the hard part is watching that. 701 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:41,839 Speaker 1: And then the other thing to really kind of pay 702 00:36:41,880 --> 00:36:44,000 Speaker 1: attention to is going to be our shipment pace. In 703 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,400 Speaker 1: my opinion, you know, when it comes to export sales. 704 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:49,400 Speaker 1: The bulk of our export business currently for for corn 705 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:52,400 Speaker 1: and as it stands, you know, recently for for swayabeans 706 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 1: has been to China. But we're starting to see, you know, 707 00:36:55,280 --> 00:36:58,160 Speaker 1: this week was huge for corn shipments swaybeing shipments were 708 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 1: a little bit below average, but sales paces dropped off substantially. 709 00:37:01,760 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 1: So the question now becomes, do you see China slow 710 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:08,360 Speaker 1: down on on what they're taking and could that result 711 00:37:08,480 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 1: in you know, a potential reduction and export outlook and 712 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,960 Speaker 1: an increase in overall supply because China is unable to 713 00:37:14,960 --> 00:37:18,000 Speaker 1: to take the bustles that they you know, had already purchased. 714 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:21,200 Speaker 1: So those will be the main factors that we're watching 715 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:23,680 Speaker 1: here over that here six weeks. So I just want 716 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:26,960 Speaker 1: to like pivot to one other topic before we go. 717 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 1: And you know, you talked about how you're in the 718 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:33,719 Speaker 1: cash market. Your job is to connect consumers of actual 719 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 1: grains with producers of actual grains, and you know, Tracy 720 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:41,360 Speaker 1: and I recently did an interview with Matt piet who's 721 00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:43,960 Speaker 1: the CEO of Arrived Logistics, and we talked about, like, 722 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:48,480 Speaker 1: you know, the the sort of exponentially complicated world of 723 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:51,800 Speaker 1: trucking and freight, and there's all different kinds of products 724 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:55,120 Speaker 1: that exist, all different types of destinations. It's a really 725 00:37:55,280 --> 00:37:59,200 Speaker 1: hard problem. And of course, you know, moving a truckload 726 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:01,759 Speaker 1: of saying computers or couches or phones is going to 727 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:04,319 Speaker 1: be different than moving a truckload of wheat because it's 728 00:38:04,360 --> 00:38:07,040 Speaker 1: different handling and different temperature and so forth. And I'm 729 00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:09,759 Speaker 1: sure as if you could talk a little bit about 730 00:38:09,960 --> 00:38:14,680 Speaker 1: that market of the physical moving of wheat, how that works, 731 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:17,600 Speaker 1: and like what are what makes it difficult and like 732 00:38:17,680 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 1: what are the sort of opportunities there in terms of 733 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: how could improve Yeah, um, I it is. It is 734 00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:26,920 Speaker 1: probably my favorite part of the job, but is the 735 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 1: most um the part of the job that makes me 736 00:38:29,719 --> 00:38:32,520 Speaker 1: pull my hair out the most. And so yeah, you know, 737 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:35,400 Speaker 1: wheat movement, a lot of of wheat movement, you know, 738 00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:38,400 Speaker 1: for us locally here in Michigan is done via truck 739 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:41,000 Speaker 1: and so you know, one of the things that you 740 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:43,080 Speaker 1: really kind of look at is trying to make sure 741 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,200 Speaker 1: that you know, from a farmer's standpoint, you know, not 742 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 1: a lot of farmers are sitting around their bins waiting 743 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:50,880 Speaker 1: for a truck to show up. And so one of 744 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:53,560 Speaker 1: the biggest struggles that we have, obviously is communication between 745 00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 1: truckers and and and where they're looking to load, you know, 746 00:38:56,520 --> 00:39:00,320 Speaker 1: an understanding or a follow through of of what dumped where. 747 00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:03,480 Speaker 1: You know, especially now that prices are increasing as they are, 748 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:06,239 Speaker 1: you know, you're looking at a pretty substantial price tag 749 00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:09,880 Speaker 1: on you know, moving eighteen dollars soy beans a thousand bushel, 750 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:11,960 Speaker 1: you know, a thousand bushel at a crack. You know, 751 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:14,719 Speaker 1: you're basically, I I tell my customers to make sure 752 00:39:14,719 --> 00:39:17,200 Speaker 1: they're keeping track of everyone that loads, who it is, 753 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:20,840 Speaker 1: license plates, everything, you know, basically ask for a deposit 754 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:23,799 Speaker 1: of their firstborn child because you're you're shipping you know, 755 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:27,919 Speaker 1: eighteen thousand dollars worth of wheat with a thousand busheal load, 756 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:30,520 Speaker 1: I mean you your soy beans? Excuse me. You know, 757 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:33,360 Speaker 1: you've got to recognize what is going out from a 758 00:39:33,400 --> 00:39:36,680 Speaker 1: cash standpoint, and so there's always a real concern that 759 00:39:36,719 --> 00:39:38,720 Speaker 1: you're gonna lose a load. You know, that you're gonna 760 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 1: run into a situation where someone maybe loads something, says 761 00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:45,120 Speaker 1: they're taking it to one end user and it just 762 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:47,359 Speaker 1: you know, you just can't track it down. And if 763 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:51,600 Speaker 1: you don't have the right the right information regarding who 764 00:39:51,640 --> 00:39:53,840 Speaker 1: loaded it, where it was supposed to go, you know, 765 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:56,200 Speaker 1: when it was loaded and when it should have been there. 766 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:58,239 Speaker 1: And then the follow through of making sure that a 767 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:00,759 Speaker 1: pond delivery you received the ticke it, you know, or 768 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:02,640 Speaker 1: have a copy of the ticket that is as good 769 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:06,240 Speaker 1: as money. That that a ticket, you know, it's a 770 00:40:06,239 --> 00:40:09,160 Speaker 1: receipt of delivery, you know, is saying this is mine, 771 00:40:09,200 --> 00:40:11,799 Speaker 1: I delivered it. This is that money belongs to me, 772 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:14,799 Speaker 1: you know. And so all of these things have become 773 00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:18,000 Speaker 1: incredibly difficult and as a result, have made it you know, 774 00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:20,960 Speaker 1: to where potentials, you know, the farmers opportunities may be 775 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:23,720 Speaker 1: a little bit more limited in the sense that because 776 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 1: of the inability to track or because of the inability 777 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,040 Speaker 1: to feel comfortable with with you know, loading something or 778 00:40:29,040 --> 00:40:31,799 Speaker 1: getting someone in there to properly load you know, you 779 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:34,200 Speaker 1: may not have them do uh, they may not go 780 00:40:34,239 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: into that certain market or something of that nature. And so, yeah, 781 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:39,560 Speaker 1: there's a lot of moving pieces with grain and feed, 782 00:40:39,640 --> 00:40:42,480 Speaker 1: especially feed. You know, you cattle still eat on Christmas, 783 00:40:42,560 --> 00:40:44,360 Speaker 1: you know. So these sorts of things in fraid have 784 00:40:44,480 --> 00:40:47,160 Speaker 1: been you know, very difficult to kind of pin down. 785 00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:48,840 Speaker 1: And one of the things that we've been trying to 786 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:51,400 Speaker 1: work on, is you know, how can you get established 787 00:40:51,440 --> 00:40:54,279 Speaker 1: to where you can utilize technology to let you know 788 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:56,400 Speaker 1: when the truck is is around the corner because the 789 00:40:56,480 --> 00:41:00,279 Speaker 1: driver forgot to call. These types of things automatically bloat 790 00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:02,480 Speaker 1: a ticket upon delivery, so you have access to it 791 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:04,120 Speaker 1: and no one it will be settled, you know. And 792 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:06,120 Speaker 1: so it's been a work in progress for part of 793 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:08,520 Speaker 1: the reason for all of the reasons that you stated earlier, 794 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:10,880 Speaker 1: in the sense that it's just not it's not a 795 00:41:11,200 --> 00:41:14,280 Speaker 1: when a happens b takes place because in great movement, 796 00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:16,080 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of different things can happen. You 797 00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:18,839 Speaker 1: can have a load rejected, you could have you'd miss 798 00:41:19,080 --> 00:41:20,880 Speaker 1: a dump time or a loading time, and so a 799 00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:23,120 Speaker 1: different truck has to come in or something of that nature. 800 00:41:23,160 --> 00:41:25,920 Speaker 1: And so it's still very much a work in progress. 801 00:41:26,040 --> 00:41:27,960 Speaker 1: But it's one of those situations where if you could 802 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:31,600 Speaker 1: find the system to crack that, um, you know, you 803 00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 1: would be you would be a hero, just simply because 804 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:37,799 Speaker 1: of all of the complications that come from uh, you know, 805 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:40,239 Speaker 1: not being able to to really nail down that that 806 00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 1: freight component. Cattle still eat on Christmas would be a 807 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:48,560 Speaker 1: really great I might have the write one. Andrew said, sir, 808 00:41:48,640 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 1: it's always great to have you on the show. Thank 809 00:41:51,960 --> 00:41:54,600 Speaker 1: you so much for coming back. I really appreciate it. 810 00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:57,399 Speaker 1: Thank you for having me. I enjoy the heck out 811 00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:18,080 Speaker 1: of it. Thanks Aie. That was so much. Yeah, it's 812 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:22,200 Speaker 1: so crazy that, like, after years of drought, that we 813 00:42:22,239 --> 00:42:25,000 Speaker 1: get that the farmers got like a half a year's 814 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:28,319 Speaker 1: rain in a in a matter of leaks. Yeah. I mean, 815 00:42:29,000 --> 00:42:31,520 Speaker 1: one thing I would say is that if this kind 816 00:42:31,760 --> 00:42:36,399 Speaker 1: of volatility and weather patterns keeps continuing, then it would 817 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 1: seem that there's a fundamental change that has taken place 818 00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:41,319 Speaker 1: when it comes to the weather. The other thing that 819 00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:46,360 Speaker 1: I thought was interesting was Angie's suggestion of China being 820 00:42:46,440 --> 00:42:50,440 Speaker 1: this massive buyer that sort of contributed to an overall 821 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:53,320 Speaker 1: level of tightness in the market that makes it maybe 822 00:42:54,000 --> 00:42:57,960 Speaker 1: may be less able to deal with shorter term changes 823 00:42:58,680 --> 00:43:01,879 Speaker 1: in particular hearts or crops. Yeah, you just don't have 824 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:05,400 Speaker 1: much much slack at all. And then you know, thinking 825 00:43:05,440 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 1: about like, so, okay, what is that. Yes, weather is 826 00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:11,200 Speaker 1: always volatile, right, I mean farmers have been dealing with 827 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:15,000 Speaker 1: volatile rather weather for you know, since the history of farming. 828 00:43:15,600 --> 00:43:17,960 Speaker 1: But then you know, you sort of think about, Okay, 829 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:22,320 Speaker 1: there really were a lot of unusual things that happened 830 00:43:22,320 --> 00:43:25,160 Speaker 1: in the last two years. One of them was the 831 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 1: sort of emergence of China as this sort of like 832 00:43:28,880 --> 00:43:33,719 Speaker 1: buyer of everything and trying to trying to grab all 833 00:43:33,800 --> 00:43:36,239 Speaker 1: the grains it can, and you sort of wonder like 834 00:43:36,280 --> 00:43:38,680 Speaker 1: whether there are some similarities between what's going on in 835 00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:41,319 Speaker 1: grain and what we see in like retail, where it's 836 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,440 Speaker 1: really hard to forecast and it's really hard to know 837 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:49,440 Speaker 1: what is a sustainable trend versus something that was distinct 838 00:43:49,480 --> 00:43:51,560 Speaker 1: to the last two years that's not going to persist. 839 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:57,360 Speaker 1: The agricultural bullet. Agricultural bullet, Yeah, that's affecting what bulls 840 00:43:57,400 --> 00:44:00,160 Speaker 1: actually eat, cattle who have to eat on Christmas. I'm 841 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:03,040 Speaker 1: just gonna keep going, Okay, um, you should write that song. 842 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:05,719 Speaker 1: I will, I will for sure. Okay, alright, Well, I 843 00:44:05,760 --> 00:44:08,439 Speaker 1: mean it sounds like per Angie. One of the things 844 00:44:08,440 --> 00:44:11,040 Speaker 1: to look out for is obviously what's happening in Russia 845 00:44:11,080 --> 00:44:13,640 Speaker 1: and Ukraine, but also weather for the next four to 846 00:44:13,719 --> 00:44:17,239 Speaker 1: six weeks. So everyone, uh, you know, state glued to 847 00:44:17,360 --> 00:44:20,959 Speaker 1: your various meteorology apps. I guess it's it's always weather 848 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:22,640 Speaker 1: in the end, I mean in the end, right, Like 849 00:44:22,719 --> 00:44:25,000 Speaker 1: that really is like what this market is all about. 850 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:29,640 Speaker 1: Because if yeah, yeah we need we need dome dome agriculture, 851 00:44:30,040 --> 00:44:35,680 Speaker 1: that probably okay, shall we leave it there? Leave it there? Alright? 852 00:44:35,840 --> 00:44:38,400 Speaker 1: This has been another episode of the All Thoughts Podcast. 853 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:41,040 Speaker 1: I'm Tracy Alloway. You can follow me on Twitter at 854 00:44:41,080 --> 00:44:43,480 Speaker 1: Tracy Alloway and I'm Joe Why Isn't All? You can 855 00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:46,799 Speaker 1: follow me on Twitter at the Stalwart. Follow our guest 856 00:44:46,880 --> 00:44:50,120 Speaker 1: Angie set Her. She's on Twitter at Goddess of Grain. 857 00:44:50,520 --> 00:44:54,440 Speaker 1: Follow our producer Kerman Rodriguez at Kerman armand followed the 858 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:58,719 Speaker 1: Bloomberg head of podcast, Francesca Leavi at Francesca Today, and 859 00:44:58,840 --> 00:45:01,319 Speaker 1: check out all of our podcas casts at Bloomberg, into 860 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:03,800 Speaker 1: the handle at podcasts. Thanks for listening.