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Finding opportunity in the coronavirus fallout

Is there an upside to a pandemic? 4 potential positives for your farm.

Naomi Blohm, senior market adviser

March 12, 2020

4 Min Read

Coronavirus continues to spread across the world wreaking havoc on global economies, the stock market, and commodities.

Prices have plunged lower for many sectors and will likely continue to trade sideways to lower for the very short term as the world comes to grips with the virus.

As we are still only in the preliminary stages of dealing with Coronavirus in this country, the fear selling will likely continue for a few weeks until cooler heads prevail, and the virus is curtailed. There will be economic stimulus packages announced by the government to help in economic recovery efforts, but my hunch is that the selling continues into month end and quarter end.

As commodity prices find their lows, there will be golden opportunities that arise which will help your farm.

1) Lower interest rates

Interest rates have dropped in recent weeks; use this to your advantage to refinance. Many of you already take advantage of this as you have been working with your lenders to lock in lower interest rates on various aspects of your farm, from machinery, equipment, real estate land loans, tiling, and irrigation equipment refinancing. All of these have been very popular according to agricultural lenders. Continue to focus on fixed interest rate possibilities. It is absolutely worth the time and paperwork now to save you thousands of dollars annually.

Related:These charts explain everything

2) Energy needs

I thought they were a great bargain a month ago, but with crude oil now falling below $50/barrel to the next price target below of $30/barrel, we’ve been given a “blue light special.” Lock in any diesel fuel needs for the remainder of 2020, and even LP needs as natural gas is also down to a very historic low price as well.

3) If you are an end user that needs to buy grain

Your lower pricing opportunity is nigh. Grain prices will likely continue to drift lower into month end. Funds are selling futures contracts. Technical chart action is bearish. Seasonally, grain prices work lower until month end as well. If you need to buy grain, get your open orders working now to buy lower on this break. May corn futures look to target the $3.55 price area. May soybean futures appear poised to test $8.50, and if $8.50 fails, the bigger downside target is $8.25. Have your orders in place now to buy the dip, and to take advantage of the selloff.

On March 31 USDA rolls out its Quarterly Grain Stocks report and Planting Intentions report. In last week’s blog, I stated the importance of watching the Quarterly Stocks numbers, as that will be a great indicator of recent grain demand. If there is friendly information on these reports, it will help to put a seasonal “low” in place for grain prices.

Related:What is this grain market telling me to do?

I also can’t help but wonder if some of the money coming out of the stock market this month and this quarter will then start to come into commodity markets in April and the beginning of the second quarter? Looking back at 2008, there was BIG money that flooded commodities as the economic recession took a toll on the stock market. Commodities were the beneficiary then, as investors looked for new opportunities.

4) Potential demand upswing

Lastly, in the back of my mind I remember the recent words of Secretary Purdue, that he expects China to start buying U.S. grain in late spring to early summer (likely right before a potential summer rally). China has been waiting for an opportunity to buy our commodities at a discount. That opportunity is starting.

Remember, if they buy the amount of U.S. agricultural products that they said they would in the Phase 1 agreement, that is not yet priced into the marketplace.

Yes, things might be a bit doom and gloom for a while, but in the midst of despair opportunity can arise.

Reach Naomi Blohm: 800-334-9779 and [email protected]

Disclaimer: The data contained herein is believed to be drawn from reliable sources but cannot be guaranteed. Individuals acting on this information are responsible for their own actions. Commodity trading may not be suitable for all recipients of this report. Futures and options trading involve significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. No representation is being made that scenario planning, strategy or discipline will guarantee success or profits. Any decisions you may make to buy, sell or hold a futures or options position on such research are entirely your own and not in any way deemed to be endorsed by or attributed to Total Farm Marketing. Total Farm Marketing and TFM refer to Stewart-Peterson Group Inc., Stewart-Peterson Inc., and SP Risk Services LLC. Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as an introducing broker and is a member of National Futures Association. SP Risk Services, LLC is an insurance agency and an equal opportunity provider. Stewart-Peterson Inc. is a publishing company. A customer may have relationships with all three companies. SP Risk Services LLC and Stewart-Peterson Inc. are wholly owned by Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. unless otherwise noted, services referenced are services of Stewart-Peterson Group Inc. Presented for solicitation

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Farm Progress. 

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Covid-19

About the Author

Naomi Blohm

senior market adviser, Total Farm Marketing by Stewart Peterson

Naomi specializes at helping farmers understand how to manage cash marketing needs and understand the importance of managing basis, delivery point considerations, cash flow needs and storage capacity. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Agriculture Business at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville. She has a Master of Science in Adult Education with an emphasis in Ag Economics from the UW-Platteville and a Master Certificate in Global Education, from the UW-Oshkosh.

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