Author: David Drozd, Co-founder, President, Senior Marketing Analyst
As a Canadian farmer, you wear many hats to keep your operation successful. You’re buying seed and fertilizer, planting, harvesting, operating machinery, hiring staff, feeding livestock, inspecting bins, marketing, transporting, the list goes on. The thing is, you’re not just a farmer. You’re also a parent, a partner, a provider, a decision maker, a neighbour, a sports fan, and an entrepreneur, this list goes. In striving to do well and be the best you can be, an enormous amount of responsibility comes along. The unfortunate thing is, a crucial aspect to keeping everything running smoothly is often forgotten in the busy, unpredictable life of a farmer. It’s not your operation, family, friends or even your community. It’s you.
Sometimes you need to step back and focus on yourself and your needs. Marketing grain and livestock is a huge part of your operation and doing it yourself can include time consuming tasks like online research, checking social media, and reading newsletters. You can find free information almost anywhere, but if marketing grain yourself is increasing your stress level, taking away from farming and other passions, and using up your valuable time, there is help available.There are many advantages to working with a professional marketing advisory service. Here are some of the benefits:
Reduce Stress
Having someone help you market your grain can greatly reduce your stress and improve your overall health. A marketing advisory service takes the emotional attachment out of marketing your grain and livestock, allowing you to stay clear minded and make the best decisions for you and your operation. They will monitor the markets, sorting through the endless fundamental news and market information for you, and let you know what prices to target. Reducing your stress benefits your physical health, mental health and all those around you, as stress is a leading cause of heart attacks, chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety disorders.
Follow Your Passions
Marketing requires a lot of research, reading and staying connected online. When taken off your plate, you have more time to focus on other areas of your operation. You could work in the fields, haul grain, socialize with other farmers, or just take some time for yourself. Leaving the grunt work to someone you can trust also gives you more time to spend with your family. You can attend more family events, watch your child’s hockey game or have a date night with your spouse. You can put more time and energy into the people and activities you care about, allowing yourself to follow your passions and live life the way you envisioned it. The values most important to you shouldn’t take a back seat to a volatile market.
Regulate Cash Flow
In farming, there is rarely a guaranteed or consistent form of cash flow. There are so many unpredictable factors like weather, equipment breakdowns, family emergencies and the markets themselves. A professional grain marketing advisory service can help you regulate your cash flow by planning which crop to sell, preparing for upcoming expenses, calculating your breakeven price per bushel, and helping you sell at a market high, avoiding the lows. A marketing plan, tailored to your specific needs, is designed to eliminate a cash flow crisis, keep your banker in the know and reduce your overall stress and anxiety.
Marketing grain and livestock is simple, but it isn’t easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get it right. Marketing grain yourself can be rewarding if you enjoy doing it and have the time for it. However, if you find you would rather be doing something else, it can be a huge burden on you, your family and your time. An advisory service can help you to live the life you want, whether that’s driving the tractor, taking the day off, or enjoying a family vacation without worrying about what the markets are doing. Hiring someone to watch the markets for you and alerting you when needed, allows you to concentrate on what’s important – you.