The Elevator’s Cut Podcast

S2E2 In this episode, Jason and Roger return from the road to unpack what they’re hearing across the industry—from farmer frustrations to merchandiser game plans. They dig into summer inversions, spread behavior that defies expectations, and the silent chaos of full bins before harvest. Also: co-op board decisions, pricing deadlines, and how bureaucratic policies somehow helped basis. If you’re in grain merchandising or AG logistics, this one’s for you.

We sit down with Fred Seamon, Executive Director of Commodity Research and Product Development at CME Group, to discuss all the buzz and consternation around the corners of the internet for the agricultural world. Of course, we also delve into the zeitgeist of this season. Fred sets us straight on how the commercial side is affected by HFT, algos, convergence, and more. And he does it all in a clear and simple way that even a couple guys from Arkansas can understand.

Long time friend of the show Jeff Reardon spends some time with us going over how the financial side of the business is handling this big rally year. He also tells us how commercial grain business margins are faring this year based on his unique analysis and metrics.

2020 has been the most unique year we’ve had in a while, and spreadz are not immune to this year’s wonkiness. While we haven’t seen this type of spread action in the grain biz in a few moons, they are not unheard of and in fact, once understood, flat & inverted markets can provide the astute merchandiser with both profit and fun. Probably.

The guys delve into all the zeitgeists that have folks riled up about visions of rallies to come this year. Join us as we discuss practical ways to digest the news without the need for all the antacid.

As always, thanks to our sponsor for this episode: Sample Buckets.

Today, we delve into the policies and contracts that haven’t had a great year (namely rolling basis contracts) and how to improve them in the future. We also get into some of the popular contracts for new crop and which ones you should be tweaking, eliminating, improving, or promoting in the current environment.

In this episode the guys social distance with Scott Hansen, long time WCC employee and fixture of the Iowa school board world. Scott shares with us his take on what is and is not new in the grain business, as well as sharing a few of his stories from the road. 

The guys hop on the line with Luke Swenson and Joe Solinger from Bushel to get learnt on how ag tech is being driven in the commercial grain business, all while adhering to proper social distancing guidelines. To learn more about how Bushel is helping the grain industry, please visit them at bushelpowered.com 

We are joined once again by our compatriot Jeff Reardon to get a better grasp on what the Payroll Protection Program means for the grain business. Jeff also points out that just like buying and selling grain, when dealing with your lender everything is negotiable until you sign on the dotted line.

We sit down to discuss what our first year of the show has been like with our most requested guest ever: Randy. He gives us the stats and pulls back the curtain on how the sausage is made. We also discuss ideas for the future on how to bring you, the listener, more of what you want.

What do frozen sump pump pipes, show pig tanning beds and accumulators have in common? More than you might realize. Join us as we delve into the details of some of the most remembered grain cheats of the 21st century. And you thought 2019's discount schedules were a rip off!

Join the guys as they discuss their recent misadventures on the grain conference circuit.

On this episode, we sit down with Cullen Wilson of Dakota Plains Ag Center during the White Commercial Summer Conference. Cullen is lead originator and discusses his philosophy on origination and successful farm marketing as well as a new project he is working on as a resource for farmers in their marketing decisions.

https://grainmarketingstack.substack.com/subscribe

@cullenjwilson

www.dakotaplainsag.com

@DakotaPlainsAG

The guys sit down with Blake Early, founder and CEO of Agrihound to discuss the peculiar particularities of the interactions between farmer and buyer. If you'd like to learn more about Blake, his company or his grain contract education platform, we invite you to check out his website at agrihound.com.

Just when you thought you couldn't win anymore basis, along comes the idea of "Full Basis". Join us as we discuss the finer points of how merchandisers actually DO (and DON'T) capture grain margins in the world of reality.

What happens when you combine sensationalism, national elections and mountains of soybeans in the great north? Nothing short of an event that causes folks on the coasts to double down on their pity for fly over country. 

Disrupty McDisruptface, or, how things aren't always as they seem. In this episode we gently hash out the age old maxim "if it ain't broke, disrupt it...then it'll break".