Grain marketing took center stage at the 55th state convention of the Kansas National Farmers Union in Mayetta, Kan., on Aug. 2 and 3. The convention was held at the Prairie Band Casino at the Pottawatomie Nation.

Pete Lorenz, National Farmers grain marketing plus senior analyst from Beloit, discussed marketing trends and strategies and answered questions from farmers.

“When it comes to production, it used to be that the U.S. was the big dog in the world, and that’s not the case any longer with competition from South America. And, now, instead of just worrying about one crop, we’re worrying about two crops as market movers, one in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere,” Lorenz said.

Don Roose, head of U.S. Commodities, covered changes in the world grain marketing landscape, marketing timing and marketing influences, and shared grain and livestock market forecasts.

The panel, including Roose and Christie Thomason, National Farmers grain marketing representative, covered market planning strategies. The panel also encouraged producers to protect prices at a level that is profitable. “You’ve got to do that, either through contracting or through options,” Roose said.

Farm bill issues
A farm bill listening session was also part of the program. Zack Clark, Farmers Union director of government relations, based in Washington, D.C., facilitated the discussion. One question was about a rumor that crop insurance will be cut. However, Clark said he doesn’t expect crop insurance legislation to change in a major way.

Donn Teske, National Farmers Union vice president and Kansas Farmers Union state president, and James Kelly, agricultural adviser to Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., also attended. Kelly’s work for Moran is based in Kansas.

Farm policy
Members also addressed agricultural policy issues and passed resolutions on the state level, said Greg Stephens, Salina, National Farmers member. The first resolution supported a more transparent international grain certification process for organic certification imported into the U.S.

Steve Clanton, Ottawa County National Farmers member and grain farmer, engaged in discussion with Roose, staff and others about the problem with convergence in grain trading. Futures and cash prices are far apart, but should converge at delivery time. That doesn’t necessarily happen.

Clanton has served on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s grain commodity growers’ commission. He has been involved in the National Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, where he was a past president, and on the local Extension and soil conservation boards. Ultimately, Kansas members passed a resolution that allows for producers to deliver against futures contracts at the quoted delivery points, in order for prices to converge as a market discovery tool.

Additionally, the group passed a resolution in support of state legislation to eliminate farmer liability from traffic accidents that may occur when crops such as corn hinder the view of road traffic.

Kansas members took the opportunity to recognize longtime members. Carl and Linda Wahlmeier, Jennings, Kan., received the Chris Walker Farm Bargaining Leadership Award. The Wahlmeiers are known as top-quality producers, and Carl served on National Farmers national board for 14 years. Four of the Wahlmeiers’ sons attended to see their parents receive the award.

AWARD WINNERS: Carl and Linda Wahlmeier of Jennings, Kan., received the Chris Walker Farm Bargaining Leadership Award, honoring their long service and dedication to quality production.

“We had good producers there. I saw a lot of new faces,” Lorenz said. “Part of that is we had a strong invitation to Kansas Farmers Union, and that turned out well. We’re pleased to work with other farm groups, and I heard positive feedback from people there about that.”

Souce: Kansas National Farmers Union