Planting season is largely behind us, but there are still a few important items producers should have on their radar as we move into June. At Red Risk Strategies, we've been talking with growers about what's next—from acreage reporting and crop insurance claims to market volatility and rising input costs. DON'T FORGET ACREAGE REPORTING The June 30 acreage reporting deadline will be here before we know it. Accurate acreage reports are essential for your crop insurance coverage

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month — and in agriculture, that conversation matters more than most people realize. For many in agriculture, stress becomes normal. Sleepless nights during planting and harvest. Constant worry about input costs. Equipment breakdowns at the worst possible time. Commodity swings. Drought. Hail. Financial pressure. The feeling that everything depends on one good year. Rural communities are built on toughness, resilience, and pride. But me

The cattle market continues to hold strong, but as always, there are outside forces that can quickly influence direction. As we look ahead, there are two primary factors worth paying close attention to: headlines and corn prices. 1. HEADLINES STILL MOVE MARKETS News and policy developments remain a major driver of market volatility. Recently, negotiations led by Secretary Rollins aimed to reopen cattle trade with Mexico. However, those discussions stalled after a new case of

As planters start rolling across the Midwest, there’s a sense of momentum that comes with this time of year. Windows open, conditions line up, and progress begins. But alongside that seasonal optimism, there’s a shift worth paying attention to: 2026 is shaping up to carry more downside revenue risk than 2025. WHAT'S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR? Last year, the market offered more cushion. Whether it was stronger price opportunities, tighter supply dynamics, or marketing flexibility, t

We are living in a headline-driven market. Some days, the numbers matter most. Other days, it’s the news cycle that takes the wheel. The balance between the two is always shifting, and lately, it’s been shifting quickly. WHEN MARKETS MOVE FASTER THAN THE FUNDAMENTALS Right here in our local market, we’ve seen that play out in real time. Over the past couple of weeks, December ’26 cash corn has moved from $4.90 down to $4.68. That’s not just a number on a screen—that’s margin,

Recently, Trent sat down with Chip Flory on AgriTalk to discuss one of the most important topics in agriculture today: risk management. From market volatility to strategic planning, the conversation highlighted what producers should be focusing on right now—and how to stay ahead in an increasingly unpredictable environment. GETTING TO KNOW RED RISK The conversation kicked off with Trent sharing his background and the foundation behind Red Risk. At its core, Red Risk goes beyo