Advising Marketing
Expertise in trade is critical to navigate abundantly supplied markets. Utilizing hedging, board carries and timing of basis sales are all components that must be managed for best results. Conversely, tight ending stock years which emerge about once per decade, offer unique profit opportunities if maximized. The latest USDA estimate of 13.5 billion bushels of on-farm storage is a growing trend and is already 30% more than commercial storage. Farmers are building more storage as they grow in size and seek strong returns for these large investments. There exist underlying dynamics that consistently deliver profit opportunities which are often missed by producers. Farmers are solicited with bids for their grain from many potential buyers who all want to buy their grain as cheap as possible. Having time for direct, daily focus to know if bids are really the market and if they are leaving opportunities on the table leave producers questioning who they should sell to. Alpine helps our customers understand where the true market is and take advantage because we aren’t the actual buyers, we work for our customers.

Protecting Profit
Ways we protect profit for our customers is managing the timing of sales and observing the movement of all tributary markets into what we call “situational awareness of basis”. Board rallies are often paired with basis compression and in low futures periods, there are opportunities to sell premium basis bids. Holding off on sales until late spring/summer over harvest/fall periods can award basis appreciation. Many producers today are large enough to be considered commercial based in size, so Alpine works to shift their focus into a commercial mindset. Alpine explores the entire market for our customers for best value with emphasis on connecting them directly to the end user. Narrowing the focus to the bottom line with disciplined sales goals, building long-term equity and avoiding unrealistic attempts to hit highs are core strategies of Alpine. We work on percentages of production as we approach strategy and this evolves depending on stage of crop development and macro-economic news.

Commercial Knowledge
Commercially, buyers hope to keep the producer unaware of true market value and price discovery low. Alpine being versed in commercial markets helps recognize opportunities and capitalize on them for added profit. Overseeing that buyers transact in a manner aligned with industry standards for discounts, shipment periods and payments are also things Alpine keeps track of for our customers. Alpine helps the producer utilize the tools that commercial trade companies use every day to manage risk and put them to work for their farming operations.

Personal Visits
Alpine understands the value of relationships and trust. We work hard to help our customers understand we are on their side, working for them as a part of their business with their success as our focus. We strive to know our customers personally and make the relationship evolve into a team concept with goals to maximize profit for the operation.

Cash Brokerage
Working with sellers both on producer level and commercially to buy or sell. Taking the broad experience in all US markets and leveraging relationships, Alpine can help you buy or sell.

Break-even Analysis
Specific to operation to help set sales targets.