3 Tips for Winter Grain Marketing and Storage

Winter is considered downtime for most farmers. Equipment is safely stored away, and your Brandt Inspection is complete. Time is used to organize the shop and complete unfinished projects there wasn't time for in the summer or fall. Winter is also the time to haul and sell grain and clear up bin space for next season. There is a lot to consider when selling grain, whether you have a broker or do it yourself.  Here are three important tips for winter grain marketing and storage: 
 

Storage

Firstly, storage can be a concern. It’s great that the yields are up, and maybe you’ve run out of bin space, but this presents other issues like moisture, bugs, and other contaminants.  A solution to this problem is to store grain in grain bags, which will protect your grain and extend the length of time it can be stored. The moisture content of the grain is also necessary to consider when using grain bags. Crops that are too moist should be removed within a couple of months.
 

Crop Value

Now that the grain is stored correctly, how do you ensure you get the best value for your crop? Using a grain or commodity broker can reduce some of the stress of selling your grain, leave it up to the pros while you enjoy a well-deserved vacation. However, if the DIY approach is more your style, your local grain elevator is a great place to start. Sign up for their text message or email updates to stay in the loop on price flucuations and demand for your specific grains. Many brokers and elevators post regular updates and newsletters which offer valuable information. Look for articles written by economists in the industry and check popular industry websites and blogs for new information or different perspectives.
 

Have a Plan

Ensure you have a plan and a backup plan. If you get a contract with a buyer, be sure you have these details in writing to secure features. Sometimes things don’t go as expected and an early winter can affect the demand and market. In the same respect, an easy harvest can affect the markets. During harvest, be proactive by starting a marketing plan and ask your local buyers, elevators or feed mills the appropriate questions. Precision Ag data can also prove very helpful in creating your marketing plan as it provides yield information that will help build your strategy for next season.

Each season is different; therefore the trends of one year don’t necessarily correlate to years before or after. Learn as much as you can about your local markets and the commodities you are growing to create your marketing plan and backup plan going forward. There are endless resources available to stay educated and informed.