Marketing Grain Like Grandpa Never Could
When Grandpa was farming, innovation looked like a new combine, a better hybrid seed, or—in my experience—testing fertilizer rates double the recommendation of the state university. He was on the leading edge of his time—making bold decisions with limited data analytics and a whole lot of grit.
But today? Things have changed…
With advanced charting platforms, real-time quoting systems, and access to futures and options markets at our fingertips, the Board of Trade is now in our offices, our homes, even our pockets. What used to take a phone call and a handshake now happens with a few clicks and a strategy tailored to the operation.
From Gut Feel to Data-Driven Precision
Grandpa marketed grain with instinct. He knew his land, his buyers, and the rhythm of the seasons. That intuition still matters—but now we can pair it with much greater precision. We can see live bids, compare basis levels across regions, and model hedge scenarios with clarity he never dreamed of.
And it’s not just the “big picture.” Today, apps ping your phone when basis shifts, platforms let you set automated target orders, and dashboards show you the cost of production versus market price in real time. Grandpa might have had notes scrawled on the back of an envelope; now we’ve got more clarity before breakfast than he had all season.
This isn’t just about selling corn or beans. It’s about building a marketing plan that fits your operation like a glove—whether you’re managing 500 acres or 50,000.
Be the Innovator Grandpa Was
Grandpa didn’t wait for someone to tell him how to farm better. He figured it out. He tried new things. He led.
Today, we have tools he never had—but the same opportunity to lead. To be the innovator. To use technology not just to react, but to position our grain in the market strategically. And that means more than chasing high prices—it means protecting the downside, locking in profits, and managing cash flow with confidence.
Because here’s the truth: technology is only as good as the farmer is willing to put it to use. The same grit Grandpa carried into the field is the mindset we need to carry into the markets today.
Looking Ahead
Innovation didn’t stop with Grandpa’s combine, and it won’t stop with today’s marketing platforms. Artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and even blockchain could shape how grain is priced and sold in the years to come. The farmers who lean in now—the ones who adapt and lead—will be the ones ready for the next wave.
So, here’s the challenge: Are you settling for “how it’s always been done?” Are you overwhelmed by the firehose of data and decisions you face daily? If you are, send us an email. We can help you use the tools. Learn the systems. Build a strategy. Market grain like Grandpa never could—because now, you can.
Garret Brown
Founder | Market Advisor
Having grown up on a farm, Garret respects the wide range of skills needed to run a successful operation and recognizes farmers are often stretched thin trying to do it all. This understanding, along with his affinity for markets, fuels his drive to make tough marketing decisions simpler for farmers.
Leveraging his experience in grain origination and margin management, Garret analyzes technical and fundamental market information. With the assistance of CODAK’s algorithmic signaling platform, he puts together buy/sell recommendations while working with the CODAK team to create strategies that accommodate each farmer’s personal risk tolerance, on-farm storage capacity, and break-evens.