Free Grain Marketing Forum for Women held in 2009

MarketAg held a Free Grain Marketing Forum for women through Australia in 2009. 

Women Farmers to Become the Force in Grain Marketing - 2009

It is all about getting the right balance!  That’s according to Mark Martin from the independent commodity advisory firm MarketAg.  Mr Martin says that grain marketing is more than just balancing production prospects against future grain price movements; it is also about balancing the level of risk you want in your business; the balance required to allow you to be able to sleep at night and the balance of costs verses returns that allows you to make a profit.  Just as farmers know they need land management disciplines and the right mix with their agronomics to get a healthy and well balanced soil for growing successful crops, Mr Martin suggests the same mind set has to be adopted when grain marketing and that is setting certain disciplines within a set plan and keeping the mind (and for that matter body) healthy and well balanced to achieve a successful grain marketing outcome. 

MarketAg won a grant from DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry) under their “Recognising Women Farmers” program to run a serious of grain marketing workshops for women in both Eastern and Western Australia. “The idea has been hatching for some time and became even more critical with the numerous changes that have taken place to the grains industry over the past 18 months” says Mr Martin.  Women are often well placed in the farming business to lead the farm’s commodity marketing program; they are computer savy; often have greater daily access to computers, information and communication than their male partners; possibly less emotive when making a decision to sell or not sell, a lot more disciplined with their marketing plan and understand the need for balance in all aspects of their life.  Women are also good networkers, which help them with their information gathering.

The problem that often limits their participation is there is too little training in the arena of grain marketing to give them the confidence; some tertiary studies include a little, but it is often scant.  There are information sessions run by grain marketers and advisors, but these are often very generic or maybe too technical.  What the MarketAg forum did is get back to and even beyond the core basics; issues such as philosophies behind decision making, balancing risk and health, the full impact a marketing decision can have on the farm enterprise, how a price is determined and what can influence it, contract obligations and who’s who in the grain marketing zoo – just to touch on a few.  This will enable the audience of women only to freely ask questions and workshop the content.  

For more information email info@marketag.com.au or phone 02 6747 1590.