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The weather forecast looks really wet for the dry areas of Argentina February 17 to 19. How much rain hits and where will be a major market factor. The rain will be too late to help the corn crop, but can help the late seeded soybeans and the double crop soybeans.
Our next webinar will be held at 8:00 pm on February 23rd. For updates on South America and other market factors---please join us. For more information on joining a webinar or receiving a free trial of our services please call 888-345-2855.
I’d like to invite you to join me for our Second Tuesday “Profit Check” webinar, February 7 at 8 p.m. CST. Our special guest will be Machinery Pete from Successful Farming magazine. They will discuss:
“Used Farm Equipment Values for 2012”
Our Tuesday webinars are free & open to the public---to register click here. All you need to attend a webinar is a computer with an internet connection and speakers or headphones.
Webinars begin at 8:00 pm, but you can log in around 7:50 if you'd like to catch Al going over a few charts.
If you have questions or have any questions about how to attend a webinar call 888-345-2855 between 8am-3pm daily or after 7pm on the night of the webinar.
Our Last Thursday Webinar for January will be held next Thursday evening (January 26th) at 8:00 pm!Next week's webinar will feature Special Guest David "DT" Tolleris, our favorite weather guy! The topic will feature a South American weather update and an initial outlook for North America in 2012.
Our Thursday webinars are for subscribers only---but subscibers of our 30-Day Free Trial are also invited! If you have questions, require assistance or would like to start a Free Trial call 888-345-2855 between 8am-3pm daily or after 7pm on the night of the webinar.
This is the projected rain for the next week in South America. Many of the dry areas of Argentina received much needed rain this week. With hot temperatures forecasted, more rain will be needed to improve the corn and soybean crop conditions.
Tomorrow night (Jan. 10) we will host our 2nd Tuesday Webinar for the month of December. Our Tuesday webinars are open to the public---to register click here. All you need to attend a webinar is a computer with an internet connection and speakers or headphones.In addition to our market updates, and a preview of the big crop reports coming up, our special guest will be Brian Willott, a Missouri farm boy who now lives in Brazil. Brian will let us know how the crops are really looking down there, and what he's hearing.
Webinars begin at 8:00 pm, but you can log in around 7:50 if you'd like to catch Al going over a few charts.
If you have questions or require assistance call 888-345-2855 between 8am-3pm daily or after 7pm on the night of the webinar.
This is the forecast for rain in South America over the next 7 days. How much rain hits and where will have a huge impact on the grain markets next week. We will update our weather expectations early next week in our AM update.
Please join us for the following events during the month of January:2nd Tuesday Webinar
January 10th, 2012
8:00 pm
Special Report
Thursday January 12th, 2012
Emailed to you by 8:00 am
Last Thursday Webinar
January 26th, 2012
8:00 pm
For information on how to attend one of our events please call 888-345-2855.
This map shows the moisture forecast from now through January 10 for South America. This shows how dry it will stay in most of southern Brazil and all of Argentina and Paraguay. Also temperatures are forecasted to reach up to 100 to 102 degees in the dry areas.
This is the rain forecast for the next 7 days and it shows very little rain in the dry areas of Argentina and southern Brazil. We will update the weather forecasts and our projections in our early morning update on Tuesday morning January 3, 2012.
We had nearly 200 guests for last night's webinar, and it is now archived on our website for those of you who missed it. To view it, click here and then use your member information to log in.
Thursday webinars are for members only, but our Tuesday webinars are open to the public. Our next webinar is scheduled for January 10th at 8:00 pm, for more information about how to attend it or to receive a Free Trial of our services email info@kluispublishing.com or call 888-345-2855.
The rain event so far has been disappointing in Argentina and it looks like it will stay hot and dry through the end of the year. This forecast is for the percent of normal precipitation across South America. This hot dry weather is hitting as about 30% of the corn crop is entering the critical pollination phase.
Interested in learning the basics of futures and options for farm marketing? Join us for Lafayette Trading Academy, a 9-week course that combines webinars and two weekend-long seminars that will allow you to learn the skills necessary to succeed with your marketing plan!The course kicks off on January 21st, with our first seminar held at the Lafayette Club on beautiful Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata, MN. It is followed by 8 Monday Night webinars that each have a different topic---from Basic Chart Methods to Understanding Grain Merchandising and Managing Margins. The series ends with another weekend-long seminar at the Lafayette Club on March 17th.
We would love for you to join us! To request more information or to get signed up, call us at 888-345-2855!
On Tuesday night we held our "2nd Tuesday" webinar for December. We had over 205 guests join us for the program and got a lot of great questions from our guests!
You can view the archived version of this webinar by clicking on the clip above or by visiting Al's TV Room.
The "Last Thursday" webinar for December will be held on December 29 at 8:00!
Want to provide a friend or family member with a 30-Day Free Trial of the Al Kluis report and get an Al Kluis Farmer's Almanac for yourself for free?
All you have to do is provide us with their info---name, adddress, email, cell phone number and service provider (verizon, AT&T etc) and we'll get them set up with our services for 30 days, free of charge as well as send an Al Kluis Farmer's Almanac to you!
Send us an email at info@kluispublishing.com or call 888-345-2855 and get your friends or family signed up today!
This is the precipitation map for the next seven days for South America. The dry areas of Southern Brazil, Northern Argentina, and most of Paraguay are likely to stay dry. How much rain and where it hits will be a major market factor for the corn and soybean markets next week.
2nd Tuesday Webinar- December 13, 2011 at 8:00 pmSpecial Report- December 9, 2011 by 8:00 am
Year in Review- December 30, 2011
Last Thursday Webinar- December 29, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Follow the links above to register. For information on a 30-day free trial or other Al Kluis Services please call us at call us at 888-345-2855 or email info@kluispublishing.com.
Last night we held our "Last Thursday" webinar for November. We held it early this month due to Thanksgiving! Even with the scheduling change and the busy time of year we had 136 guests join us for the program. Members can find the archived version of last night's webinar by clicking here and signing in.
If you aren't a member, you can gain temporary access to this archived webinar by signing up for our 30-day FreeTrial, or by calling our information line and asking for more info: 888-345-2855.
Our next webinar is free and open to the public and will be held on Tuesday, December 13th. You can register here.
We will host our "Last Thursday" webinar for November tomorrow night at 8:00 pm. We are holding it a bit early this month in observance of Thanksgiving.
Our Thursday webinars are for subscribers only. However, you can gain access to the webinar by signing up for our 30-Day Free Trial, or by calling our information line and asking for more info: 888-345-2855. If you are a subscriber who cannot attend, you can find the archived version on Friday morning by visiting alkluis.com, logging in and then viewing Al's TV Room! Hope to see you there!
Last night we held our "2nd Tuesday" webinar for November. We had over 202 guests join us for the program and enjoyed hearing from clients in all parts of the country.
You can view the archived version of last night's webinar by clicking on the clip above or by visiting Al's TV Room.
Remember, the "Last Thursday" webinar for November will be held on November 17th at 8:00!
- Monday, November 21
- Tuesday, November 22
- All weekdays from November 28 to December 15, except Monday, December 5 when I will be out.
2nd Tuesday Webinar- November 8, 2011 at 8:00 pmSpecial Report- November 9, 2011 by 8:00 am
Last Thursday Webinar- November 17, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Follow the links above to register. For information on a 30-day free trial or other Al Kluis Services please call us at call us at 888-345-2855 or email info@kluispublishing.com.
Happy Halloween from all of us at Kluis Commodities!
Here are 13 guidlines from The U.S. Food & Drug Administration, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for how to have a safe and happy Halloween:
• Choose flame-resistant costumes. Store-bought costumes should read "flame-resistant" on the label. Homemade costumes should be made out of flame-resistant fabrics, like polyester or nylon.
• Glow in the dark. Wear bright colors or costumes with reflectors to ensure being visible in the dark. Also, to avoid tripping, make sure costumes aren't too long.
• Avoid masks. Masks can make it more difficult to see properly. Replace them with makeup and hats.
• Test makeup. Put a small amount of costume makeup on one arm about two days before dressing up. Do not use the makeup if it triggers an allergic reaction, which may include a rash, swelling or other sign of irritation.
• Check makeup ingredients. Avoid using any makeup containing additives that are not FDA-approved.
• Be cautious about decorative contact lenses. Avoid wearing any costume lenses unless you have seen an eye-care professional and been properly fitted and instructed on their use.
• Halloween safety measures apply to more than just costumes, the experts noted. When trick-or-treating, kids and parents should keep the following tips on candy in mind:
• Candy should not be eaten until it has been inspected at home.
• Trick-or-treaters should fill up on a healthy meal or snack before they start knocking on doors so they won’t be tempted to eat candy before it has been checked.
• Don't let kids accept or eat any candy or food items that are not in unopened store wrappers.
•Very young children should not receive or be allowed to keep any choking hazards, such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
• Inspect all candy to make sure no one has tampered with it. Some signs to look for include discoloration, pinholes and small tears in wrappers. Toss anything that looks suspicious.
Anyone attending a Halloween party or event, the experts add, should also consider taking the following precautions:
• Avoid drinking any juice than hasn't been pasteurized, such as packaged juice products that may have been made on site. Typically, the juice found in grocery stores in the freezer or refrigerator sections is pasteurized as well as any beverages on the shelf in boxes, bottles or cans.
• Before bobbing for apples, wash the produce thoroughly to reduce exposure to dirt and bacteria.
Tips from USA Today.
Last night we hosted our "Last Thursday" Webinar for October. Over 136 locations joined us for the hour long discussion!
If you are a subscriber who was unable to attend last night, you can now find the archived version by visiting alkluis.com, logging in and then viewing Al's TV Room!
Our next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, November 8th and is open to the public. Register by clicking here.
If you have trouble logging in, or have questions about our webinars or other services call us at 888-345-2855 or email info@kluispublishing.com.
Holidays are a great time to add a festive touch to your family's meals. Here are two creative recipes for Halloween:
Beef Stew with Ghoulish Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 pound fresh mushrooms, halved
- 2 cups fresh baby carrots
- 2 medium parsnips, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 1-1/2 cups beef broth
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 8 medium potatoes (2-1/3 pounds), peeled and cubed
- 2/3 cup sour cream
- 6 tablespoons butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons water
- In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first 11 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until beef and vegetables are tender.
- About 30 minutes before serving, place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain. Return potatoes to pan; add the sour cream, butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mash until smooth.
- Set aside 12 peas for garnish. Add remaining peas to the slow cooker. Increase heat to high. In a bowl, whisk the flour, water and remaining salt until smooth; stir into stew. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until thickened.
- Divide stew among six bowls. Place mashed potatoes in large resealable plastic bag; cut a 2-in. hole in one corner. Pipe ghost potatoes onto stew; garnish with reserved peas. Yield: 6 servings.
The Haunted Graveyard
- Ingredients:
-
- 1/2 cup fresh spinach
- 10 ounces hummus
- Vegetables (we used broccoli and celery)
- Pretzels
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Crackers
- Black olives
- Edible marker
- Carrot sticks
- Directions:
-
- In a food processor, puree the spinach and hummus.
- To make the boiled-egg ghosts, cut slits and insert black-olive facial features. Use an edible marker to turn crackers into tombstones.
- Mound the dip on a tray and top it with veggie trees, a pretzel fence, boiled-egg ghosts, and cracker tombstones.
Are you free next Thursday evening? At 8:00 pm on October 27th we will host our "Last Thursday" webinar and would love for you to join us.
Our Thursday webinars are for subscribers only. However, you can gain access to the webinar by signing up for our 30-Day Free Trial, or by calling our information line and asking for more info: 888-345-2855. If you are a subscriber who cannot attend, you can find the archived version on Friday morning by visiting alkluis.com, logging in and then viewing Al's TV Room! Hope to see you there!
Harvest progress continues to plug along rapidly and we are still well above the 5 year harvest progress pace. The USDA reported that soybean harvest is 69% complete compared to 61% on the 5 year average pace and 1% further along than the average trade guess. The states that have the largest percent of the soybean crop left to harvest is MO, IN and ILL. As producers are wrapping up soybean harvest, we are hearing more and more disappointing yields on the later planted soybeans.
The USDA reported that the corn is 47% harvested compared to the 5 year average of 41% harvested and 2% higher than what traders were looking for this week. The states with the most acres yet to harvest are the Dakotas, NE, WI, IA & IN. Yields are coming in all over the place, but generally they are a touch less than expected as a whole and definitely less than last year for a National yield.
There does not look to be any threatening weather that will move in over the next couple weeks and with the equipment we have now days, we will likely wrap up harvest around the 1st of November.
Images from Dowson Farms.
One of the best parts of fall is the opportunity to visit a corn maze in your area. Not only does a corn maze provide hours of entertainment, but these venues often offer other activities such as wagon rides, pumpkin picking and petting zoos. If you are in the Twin Cities, you can visit Sever's Corn Maze in Shakopee, which boasts activities such as pumpkin slinging, pig races, a giant slide, live music and the corn pit! Their hours of operation are:
Saturday & Sunday
September 17 to October 30th
10am-6pm
For an interactive map of Corn Mazes nationwide click here!
If you are a farmer who struggles to manage the many components of price risk including cash sales, options or insurance, I recommend that you check out GrainBridge. GrainBridge is a safe and secure grain management software that will help you feel more confident with your marketing decisions.
Here are some of the advantages I see with this program:
- This Risk Management Software was designed to help you plan and manage your grain marketing and every component of your farming business.
- The “Planner” feature can help you create a marketing plan that incorportates crop insurance, break even analysis and profit targets.
- The “Manager” feature tracks your cash sales, futures, options, government and insurance payments. All values are continuously updated during trading hours so you can see instantly how your net price compares to your marketing plan.
I feel that GrainBridge can be a valuable tool for every farmer! You can learn more about it by watching this short introudctory video. For more information or to try it for free, call our office at 888-345-2855 or email us at info@kluispublishing.com with your GrainBridge questions.
Last night we hosted our 2nd Tuesday Webinar for October. We welcomed over 100 farmers and enjoyed the discussion and questions. You can click here to be redirected to Al's Tv Room where you can view the archived version:During last night's webinar we discussed the following topics:
- Current market fundamentals
- Key prices levels to watch
- Current market psychology
- GrainBridge 2.0... the new release of our favorite grain management software!
On Tuesday, October 11th we will host our 2nd Tuesday Webinar. These webinars are free and open to the public. To register click here.
Next Tuesday's webinar will be hosted by Al Kluis and Cory Bratland with special guests from Grainbridge. Topics for Tuesday will include:
- Current market fundamentals
- Key price levels to watch
- Current market psychology
- GrainBridge 2.0... the new release of our favorite grain management software!
If you are unable to attend next Tuesday night, be sure to check back on Wednesday morning for information on how to view the archived video.
As a company that relies on up-to-the minute information, we know that our customers also appreciate being kept in the loop! We are now implementing social media to ensure that our information is getting to our clients as quickly as possible. You can now follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates, news and information.
You can find our twitter page and "follow" us by clicking here.
You can find our Facebook page and "like" us by clicking here.
Here is a list of our events that you can look forward to during the month of October!
First Tuesday Webinar- October 11th at 8:00 pm
Special Report- October 12th, Sent to you by 8:00 am
Last Thursday Webinar- October 27th at 8:00 pm
Crop Progress Report- Every Monday by 4:00 pm
Last night we held our 2nd Tuesday webinar for September. You can view our archived version by clicking on the clip above. If you have questions about the webinar or Al Kluis services contact us at info@kluispublishing.com or call 888-345-2855.
This is the rain forecast through September 5th. If the forecast is correct then a lot of the dry areas of eastern Iowa and western Illinois will get some much needed rain.
2nd Tuesday Webinar- 9.13.11 8:00 pm
Special Report- 9.12.11 & 9.30.11 8:00 am
Last Thursday Webinar- 9.29.11 8:00 pm
Crop Progress Report- Every Monday by 4:00 pm
Last night we held our 2nd Tuesday webinar for August. You can view our archived version by clicking on the clip above. Last night’s webinar included special topics such as managing your grain in 2012 and the weather outlook with DT the weatherman!
We are inviting photographers to submit photos for use in the 2012 Kluis Commodity Calendar.
The winners will be given prizes, and the selected photos will be included in the 2012 Kluis
Commodity Calendar.The theme: Technology on Today’s Farm.
Deadline: September 1, 2011.MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST
What is the Kluis Commodity Calendar?
Every year, we feature photos and other images of of farms and agriculture-related topics relevant to today’s successful farmer and grain marketer in our top-quality, glossy, oversized (11.5 x 13.5 inches) Calendar. The Calendar is shipped every year to farmers, bankers, seed dealers, and others in the business of agriculture throughout the US Cornbelt and Canada. The retail price is $30 per Calendar. Each month in the Calendar, we also list historic high and low prices, important USDA report dates, news to watch, and a marketing checklist. Everything in the Calendar is related to the global price of grain.
Click here for full contest rules and official forms (PDF).
2nd Tuesday Webinar- 8.12.11 8:00 pm
Special Report- 8.13.11 8:00 am
Last Thursday Webinar- 8.25.11 8:00 pm
Special Event Webinar- 8.30.11 8:00 pm
Crop Progress Report- Every Monday by 4:00 pm
Last night we hosted our 2nd Tuesday Webinar for July. We welcomed 123 farmers from all over the country and enjoyed the discussion and questions. Above, you can view the archived version of the webinar.
Our next webinar will be hosted on Thursday, July 28th. Our Thursday webinars are for members only. If you are not a member you can sign up for our 30-day Free Trial to gain access to the webinar, or you can call us at 888-345-2855 to learn more about our subscription plans.
This footage was taken by our affiliate, Cory Bratland, during a recent visit to Pierre, South Dakota. The video was taken near the Oahe Dam, this is what Cory had to say about his experience:
“There are six gates letting out 150,000 cubic feet per second of water from Lake Oahe (above Pierre). This along with a few other dams in South Dakota are what is causing much of the flooding along the Missouri river. The video does not do it justice.”
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