Hedge Heads

A bullish story can still be a tough market to sit through. With harvest bringing fresh supplies and funds already heavily committed to higher prices, what happens if the next USDA report doesn't deliver what the bulls expect?

Jon Prischmann and Ryan Tungseth break down why the longer-term case for corn hasn't disappeared, but the near-term risks deserve more attention. They discuss uneven corn yields, better-than-expected soybean yields, and why a yield cut alone might not be enough to move the market higher.

Then they tackle the decisions producers face during harvest: Does storing grain actually capture the carry? When might selling grain and buying calls make more sense than paying commercial storage? And how could selling calls against stored corn fit into a marketing plan? The conversation comes back to understanding the costs, tradeoffs, and financing before choosing your next move.

Brought to you by FM Bank. Trading commodity interests involves substantial risk of loss. Opinions expressed are for discussion only and are not trading advice.

Harvest is underway, but grain marketing deserves more than whatever time is left at the end of the day. Strong soybean basis has Jon Prischmann questioning whether supplies are as comfortable as the numbers suggest, while a more active market is opening up strategies that were difficult to justify the past two years. Jon and Ryan Tungseth discuss what buyers' bids reveal, how to approach reowning sold bushels, and why a bullish outlook doesn't automatically make calls or bull spreads a good buy. They also look ahead to next year's crop and how time can work in a producer's favor, provided the strategy fits the risk. Recorded before the September 30 USDA report, this episode focuses on reading the market and preparing to act as opportunities develop.

Energy is moving, volatility is building, and commodity markets are starting to react. That could create some of the best opportunities traders and producers have seen in a while. It could also be a very expensive time to get reckless.

Jon Prischmann and Ryan Tungseth break down why this is becoming a market where knowing your risk may matter more than predicting the next move. They discuss corn and wheat spreads, options and other defined-risk strategies, what higher energy costs could mean for grains, and why oil may be one of the most important markets to watch even if you never trade it.

They also dig into cattle, consumer spending, metals and the stock market as the effects of higher energy costs spread beyond grains. The opportunity is there. The question is how you participate without sticking your neck out when the market can change overnight.

Everybody wants to know where the market is going. Jon Prischmann and Ryan Tungseth argue that may be the wrong question. This week, they break down how one producer is approaching December 2027 corn with a strategy that goes well beyond simply placing an order at the elevator, and why learning to use futures, options, cash contracts, and storage together can create opportunities that traditional marketing misses.

Then they step outside the usual corn-and-cattle conversation to look at wheat spreads, copper, milk, oats, metals, energy and more. From choosing the right contract month to understanding liquidity and recognizing when spreads get out of line, the bigger lesson is the same: good marketing is not about finding one perfect strategy. It is about knowing which tools make sense for your operation, your risk tolerance, and the market in front of you.

Grain markets are moving again, and after two years of frustrating price action, producers finally have something worth protecting. But Jon Prischmann says the question he keeps getting, "Should I sell?" may be the wrong question entirely.

This week, Jon and Ryan break down why this rally demands a different approach to grain marketing. Corn still has meaningful upside potential, but the market has moved quickly before some of the biggest questions about acreage, yield and demand have been answered. That creates a difficult balance: protect what the market has already given you without automatically giving up what could come next.

They dig into puts, reownership strategies and why marketing grain in different blocks can create options between selling everything and simply letting it ride. Plus, they look at whether the wheat rally is being backed by real physical demand, why soybeans may be getting ahead of themselves in the short term, and the unusual spreads showing up as money pours back into commodity markets.

The markets finally have volatility again. Now the challenge is knowing what to do with it.

For months, the message on corn was simple: don't get too aggressive and don't cap the upside. Now the market is finally starting to show why.

But the rally changes the conversation. For the first time in a couple of years, producers have enough margin to start considering different ways to protect profitable opportunities while keeping some upside open.

Jon Prischmann and Ryan Tungseth break down what has changed in the corn market, why strong demand and a potentially smaller crop have created a much different setup than the last two years, and why the next several USDA reports could matter more than usual. They dig into puts, calls, reownership and other ways to manage 2026 risk, plus why it may already be time to start watching opportunities in 2027.

They also tackle the sharp shift in cattle, what could derail the bullish corn story, and some increasingly interesting signals coming from the broader economy.

The grain markets are starting to look very different from the last two years. Strong demand is no longer being comfortably matched by expectations for another near-perfect crop, and that shift is bringing opportunities back into the conversation that producers haven't had much reason to consider lately.

Jon Prischmann and Ryan Tungseth break down why re-owning bushels is getting interesting again, why they're cautiously bullish on corn and soybeans, and why August may still be the wrong time to simply chase a market higher. They dig into limited-risk ways to participate in upside, the unusual structure of corn spreads, and why upcoming crop reports could matter considerably more this year.

They also look at opportunities developing in cattle and wheat spreads, and explain why cutting through the noise may be just as important as picking the right strategy in a rapidly changing market.

The grain market may be entering a new phase. Jon and Ryan break down the latest USDA report and why strong production numbers weren't enough to pressure corn, soybeans, and wheat the way many expected.

The key shift is demand. After months of talking about burdensome supplies, the market is showing signs that demand is beginning to chew through those inventories—and that could change how producers approach marketing decisions in the months ahead.

Jon and Ryan discuss what the post-report reaction is telling us about corn, why soybeans continue to show resilience, and how geopolitical uncertainty could add another layer of volatility to wheat. They also look at the risks of chasing a rally heading toward harvest and the strategies that could become more useful if pullbacks create opportunities to re-own grain.

Plus, the conversation turns to crude oil, the Dow, and a potentially changing trend in cattle.

The takeaway: this may be a more opportunity-rich market, but discipline still matters. Stay flexible, manage risk, and don't let a bullish move turn into an excuse to get greedy.

The last two years taught producers some painful lessons—but following those lessons blindly could create a whole new set of mistakes. Jon Prischmann and Ryan Tungseth explain why this year's combination of crop uncertainty, global conflict, energy markets, and shifting demand deserves a different marketing plan. They dig into why re-owning sold bushels could become an important strategy, how basis and spreads can tell you more than arguing over USDA numbers, and why wheat may finally have a more interesting setup. Plus, cattle are beginning to show warning signs after an incredible multi-year bull market, energy could become a bigger problem for the broader economy, and Jon has his eye on a new long-term market: copper.

Every year, producers face the same questions: sell, store, or hedge? This week, Jon and Ryan focus on building a plan before harvest forces your hand. They explain how marketing credit lines can make hedging more practical, why this year's crop isn't shaping up like the last two record seasons, what they're watching ahead of USDA reports, and why they're already thinking about opportunities to re-own grain. Plus, they wrap up with an update on cattle and where hedgers should be paying attention in the weeks ahead.