Global politics add further complications to cost-effectively delivering products to customers. 

No two years in farming are alike or free of drama.
This year there is a dramatic reduction in supply, a drought in parts of the corn belt and the significant increase in oil prices.

From large corporations to small, independent businesses, it is hard to find a modern business that does not have a pledge to become more environmentally sustainable. Businesses concentrating on sustainability are typically lavished with praise while those perceived to not be doing their part may be met with harsh criticism. 

Feed ingredients are the No. 1 cost component of the protein business, followed by labor and energy. Oil prices are historically linked to feed-ingredient crops. 

While U.S. markets last year benefited from a drought in Brazil that affected the country’s corn and soybean production, this year’s projections are for record crops that will affect 2018 markets. Current projections call for a continued excess supply of both corn and soybeans.

The market is truly global in nature. One hiccup in any major crop producing region of the world can result in a significant market shift.

The fundamentals of the commodity market have changed dramatically in one year.