TMA Column

TAKING THE SQUIRRELS OUT OF YOUR DECISION MAKING

COLUMN BY: DEVIN SCHIERLING, TMA SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER

One of my favorite movie scenes of all time comes from the 2009 Disney movie, “Up.” Toward the middle of the movie, Dug, the beloved talking golden retriever meets Carl Fredricksen, the grumpy older man, and Russell, the inquisitive Boy Scout, for the first time. As Dug is speaking to Russel, he pauses mid-sentence and shouts, “Squirrel!” then continues with his conversation. This scene depicts what most of us have been experiencing since mid-March. Just when things are starting to normalize slightly, a new challenge or shiny object catches our eye and tempts us to alter our course.

The agriculture industry has seen an influx of “squirrels” or new businesses enter the grain handling and risk management space. Growth has spotlighted how quickly offerings are changing to meet the producers’ needs and provide them with the experience they desire. The marketing emphasis on re-branding traditional grain marketing programs and offerings with new names can be overwhelming and these campaigns have the potential to distract us from executing a profit-based market plan.

Flexibility is key in executing a successful marketing plan. Being willing to manage your position throughout the crop year is only part of the flexibility that is required to excel in today’s volatile agriculture markets. Evaluating all of the tools in your toolbox is vital to creating a program that works for your farming operation.

Every producer is unique and so are the offerings we provide. Many of our customers live in areas that are not tributary to one of our grain elevators. These customers utilize our direct shipment program while executing their plan. The direct shipment program through TMA allows producers to deliver to any pre-approved end-user or grain elevator by simply taking a picture of the ticket and sending it to their TMA representative. This flexibility gives producers the ability to execute their plan and maintain a positive and familiar customer experience.

A producer who stores grain on the farm can also utilize our merchandising and risk management network to maximize the value of their space. Like our direct shipment program, producers can maintain their delivery flexibility and use TMA’s team to pick up grain from their farm. Flexible delivery provides our producers with the peace of mind of working with a licensed and bonded company while executing their risk management plan.

Our offerings have changed with the markets, but our focus has remained on providing customized risk management solutions to your kitchen table. Our local focus allows our team to capitalize on the individual nuances of the region while still be connected to a more extensive network. We are here to partner with you on your operation to take the “squirrels” out of the grain handling and risk management space.