No Silver Bullets, Just Better Skills: Grain Marketing

This Farm4Profit Podcast episode dives deep into the world of grain marketing education with Jeff Kazin and Mike Rohlfsen, founders of Agris Academy. With 50+ years of combined grain trade experience—ranging from trading floors to farming and even pioneering Cargill’s first office in post-communist Ukraine—Jeff and Mike have seen the good, the bad, and the bizarre in global grain markets.

Rather than serving as advisors or brokers, they created Agris Academy to teach farmers how to think like merchandisers, empowering them with tools and frameworks to improve decision-making for the long term. Their flagship Master Class offers 40+ hours of interactive instruction, case studies, and open Q&A—helping farmers sharpen their skills beyond just chasing better prices.

Topics covered in this episode include:

Why Education, Not Advice: Why Jeff and Mike chose teaching over consulting, and the myths they love busting in grain marketing.

Tactical Insights: What stood out in 2023/24 among their students, how to market crops below cost of production, and why there’s no silver bullet.

Inside the Master Class: What the course structure looks like, who their typical students are, and what lessons they’ve learned since launching.

Beyond the Farm: Jeff’s wildest stories from 30 years in the grain trade, and Mike’s unique perspective from building markets in Ukraine.

Big Picture Takeaways: What every farmer should understand about grain marketing—and the first step they can take today to improve.

From tailgate lessons to global perspectives, this episode shows how mastering grain marketing is less about predicting the market and more about mastering your approach.

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