Beating the Average Price

by John DePutter, May 17th, 2013
 
As market analysts and advisors, it is our job to not only help farmers with decision making, but also to help them contextualize the decisions they do make – to put those decisions into perspective, and move forward with rational and strategic plans.

I say this because one of the most difficult things about the markets is the psychological aspect. It’s hard to shake a feeling of “what if”.

Farmers: True Creators of Value

by John DePutter, April 9th, 2013
 
There are many reasons I love being involved with agriculture and food. Among them, the fact that agriculture is a core industry – one that keeps evolving, keeps innovating, and will continue to be a foundation for our country and the people of this world who need to eat.

Put simply, agriculture is a true contributor to the health and well-being of our society and the wealth of our country. Or put even more simply, it is a value creator.

For the Poor Beef Cow Guys

by John DePutter, March 25th, 2013
 
Here’s an e-mail I recently received from a person in the cow-calf business:

“Why would a young guy ever want to get into beef cows? We are being challenged in many ways: shortage of feed, expensive feed, cropper guys are bidding 2-3 times on the rent for our pastures and hay ground, and we are growing old as an ag sector… John, why would a young guy ever want to get into beef cows?” Signed, poor old beef cow guy.

News is Overrated

by John DePutter, Dec 5th, 2012
 
So much information, all the time. We are positively drowning in it.

Don’t get me wrong: information is critical to a farming operation. But the real value isn’t in the news itself, not in the many facts or opinions or speculation flowing your way every second of every day. I believe the real value is in the filter: making the connections between the information that matters, drawing out the insight where possible, and letting the rest go.

Reading Between the Lines: Market Signals from Media Coverage

by John DePutter, Sept 4th, 2012
 
In recent newsletters for our subscribers, I predicted that the drought-driven bull markets would eventually attract a lot of media coverage. Coverage about the drought’s impact on food prices. About food security. About climate change, even.

It’s happening.