Get information. The more you know about whatever it is that’s causing your uncertainty, the better equipped you’ll be to deal with it. If the markets are causing those feelings, then ask yourself how you can educate yourself further about them. Learning more about what makes grain markets move and different tools that are available can be a big help. You might work with someone who is willing to be your teacher and help you master elements of marketing you’re currently unfamiliar with.

Get advice. Sometimes hearing the perspective of a third party that’s outside of your farm operation can be insightful. Many farmers have found that working with a market advisor for their farms has helped reduce their anxiety around the market, leading to greater peace of mind. Having someone to bounce ideas off of and help keep an eye on the markets for you helps take some of the load off your shoulders as the leader.

Get a plan in place. Having a flexible, dynamic marketing plan for your farm is probably the greatest key to help reduce springtime anxiety. The plan should be tailored to your unique operation and critical financial information, such as your break-evens, cash flow and business goals. As the market shifts and changes throughout the growing season, the plan should be able to shift right along with it, taking new information into account. Having a market advisor who can keep your plan in step with the changing market is the key. When decision times arise, they can act as a sounding board to help you make the decisions that are right for your operation.