Spring? Where are you?

...high school basketball is nearing an end with the various qualifying tournaments to qualify for the state tournaments. College basketball season is winding down with conference tournaments just around the corner. Signs of spring are also near, although the signs were much stronger last month when temperatures were 50 degrees than today with a blanket of snow and more forecast again this week. Don’t get me wrong, we need the snowpack and the moisture it provides, but the snow shovel and operator are both wore out!

Questions for your banker – As operating loans are underway, here’s suggested dialogue for your next meeting with your banker.

Bankruptcies – The razor thin margins and continuing years of commodity prices at or below cost of production is beginning to take a toll…read more here...

Crime – Such activities may initially appear to be ‘profitable’ for those involved; we raised our girls with the premise that all things go full circle…here's proof that we were right

Markets –

• China / US trade negotiations continue between both countries with the China delegation scheduled to be in the US again this week. US wheat prices are the least expensive available for export, even with the increased strength of the dollar, yet freight charges are the hindrance for additional sales. The continued strengthening dollar will soon prove to be headwind for export sales, especially wheat.
• African Swine Flu (AFS) in China could linger for 5-7 years and soybean demand drop 20%. Analysts state that China has underplayed the extent of the outbreak from the get go, the true extent of the impact won’t be readily known for some time.
• Bull sales are full swing this time of year and if you recall last year, report shared for a single animal bringing $800k. In comparison, that was pocket change to this year’s winning bid – more than $1.5 million!
• Hemp received crop status in the 2018 Farm Bill, removing it from the Controlled Substances Act. Annual US acres have been around 25K. US imported $100 million annually to meet market demand. US and global industrial demand projections are staggering.
• AgWeb: Cannabis in US Agriculture
• FoxBusiness: Farm Bill and a hemp revolution
• NHA: facts and statistics
• John Deere quarterly financial results are positive though yearlong forecast reflect increased production costs…
• Significant livestock losses in Australia (300,000+) and here at home (1,600+) from recent storms.
• Mato Grasso infrastructure remains an Achilles heal for this productive region of Brazil…that is the size of IL, IN, IA, MN, NE, and OH combined

New Mexico – Legislators of this state are considering a ban on coyote hunting.

Plight of Western US cities – The plight of our western cities is real, can this be abated?

Taxation in New Jersey – What’s the next revenue target? Something all residents have zero control over…NJ Rain Tax

Weather – Short-term wintry weather continues for our region…

WOTUS – the 60 day public comment period is now underway…

Until next time…

“If I am ever through learning, I am through.” ~John Wooden

Curtis Evanenko
McGregor Risk Management Services, LLC
Cell – 509.540.2632
Fax – 509.843.2599

Posted in Risk Management; Posted February 19, 2019 by Curtis Evanenko