Revenue Power Focus

Alex Offerdahl discusses Farm Bill gossip, crop progress, Margin Coverage Option and a dive into the fertilizer markets as it pertains to the war. We also look at the drought scenario out west and how a dry spring could impact results at harvest. 

RPF - Feb 27 2026: Selling Stories, Markets, Weather, etc.

RPF - Feb 13 2026 - SCO can work, can producer's cover their loan obligations, price discovery

RPF - Jan 30 2026 - New, Market, Price Discovery, 2026 Considerations

Alex Offerdahl covers current news, markets, weather and provides some tips for 2026 risk management considerations.

RPF Jan 2, 2026: Bridge Payments, 2026 CY thoughts, rules changing, market and weather

RPF - Dec 5 2025: Base rates release, PF removal, markets, weather, news

RPF - Nov 14 2025: markets, weather, news, area plan maps, harvest prices, ARC-PLC, PRF

Revenue Power Focus - Oct 17 2025: Markets, Weather, Harvest Conversations, Staying Positive

Day 3 of a government shutdown. Alex Offerdahl shares the impacts for us and producers. The team highlights markets, weather and the benefits of locking in good base coverage with area plan opportunities. We are less than 100 days from March 15. It is time to make hay while the sun is shining!

Brisk Friday - Fall Quoting Review - Sept 19 2025 - Debby Schwarz and Barb Enderson review some important components for fall quoting include tips for quoting Margin Coverage Option (MCO). 

Starting with the latest news, weather and markets, Alex Offerdahl provides an update on where things sit as we finish up price discovery for fall commodities and think about helping our producers with their major risk management decisions. 

Debby Schwarz and Rose Wendlinger discuss the markets, weather and the recent changes from the one Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). 

Alex Offerdahl covers a number of topics including the impact of reconciliation (HR 1 or One Big Beautiful Bill, OBBB), Supplemental Disaster (SDRP), crop progress, market and weather.

HR 1 may present some challenges to discussions going forward. Barb Enderson and Debby Schwarz highlight a few things to consider as you have conversations, specifically around the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) going forward. 

Alex Offerdahl and Debby Schwarz discuss some of the crop insurance changes as a result of the recent signing of the Reconciliation Bill, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act or H.R. 1

This week's focus covered proposed Reconciliation Bill highlights, Brisk updates, area plan indemnity maps, markets, weather and recent ag news.  

Alex Offerdahl provides an update on current events, markets, weather, area plans and the Senates release of their version of the Reconciliation Bill language. 

In this version of the Revenue Power Focus, Alex discusses recent disaster programs, the potential implications of the proposed SCO changes in Washington, a look at the markets, weather, and margin coverage option. 

Alex Offerdahl provides an update on the markets, weather and the new Margin Coverage Option (MCO) product. He also shared some Prevented Plant reminders among other things.

Alex Offerdahl shares an update on markets, weather, and the new Margin Coverage Option (MCO) product. Additionally, he shared some updates on the Brisk Workspace.

Alex Offerdahl shares an update on markets, weather and ECAP. He also shared some highlights of the new Margin Coverage Option (MCO) product. Additionally, he shared some updates on the Brisk Workspace.

Alex Offerdahl began by recognizing one of the nation's premier agricultural youth leadership programs, The National FFA as this is FFA Week.  Alex, then discussed the confirmation of the new Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins.  Alex urged everyone to give the FSA, NRCS and other USDA offices a little extra time, as mass layoffs and cuts have recently been passed down. A focus of the RPF surrounded the economic status of agriculture, touching on tariffs, trade war potential and producer sentiments.  The key focus of the RPF is the ever-changing markets that are impacting price discovery which made for interesting commentary.  The major takeaway from the presentation is the value of crop insurance and how growers are looking for additional coverage, ECO is the gap filler for many...seriously give it consideration.  You as the trusted agent can be one of the most valuable consultants for the growers you serve...serve them well!

The W&A marketing team discusses some objections that staff may face this spring. Key reminders included focusing on the controllables and helping producers keep their eyes on their goals. 

This is a jam-packed session! Alex Offerdahl offers insights on ten key elements that will impact you as an agent and the producers you serve.  Alex provided a comparison of projected prices over the past few years, a solid weather outlook for the growing season, an explanation on price discovery, an impactful look at tariffs and trade, avian influenza, the farm bill, ARC/PLC, ECO and more…The key takeaway is that crop insurance is a great value. ECO may be the differentiator in this year’s risk management decision to assist with covering the cost of production numbers producers will be faced with in 2025.

With sales close around the corner, we discussed the importance of a good base policy, considering ARC-County at FSA (over PLC), and adding the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO).  As a reminder, SCO may need to be canceled if producers took it with PLC in CY 2024, and are electing ARC for CY 2025.

Jay Yates shares insights on the outlook for the 2025 input costs.

The Farm Bill extension is on everyone’s mind. Debby Schwarz provides an overview of the Economic Assistance program and the Disaster Aid package. Additionally, she highlights the ARC-PLC decision and shares some comments about 2025 rate changes. 

Lee Friesen reviews a Wisconsin corn policy and shares how he might approach the spring 2025 risk management decision with a producer.

Lee Friesen, Barb Enderson and Debby Schwarz sit down to discuss some common agents’ roadblocks and producer objections. A few roadblocks include excuses for getting out the door. Prospect objections include never having a claim, it costs too much, and it has never triggered in the past. Tune it to hear the conversation around these important concerns. 

Alex Offerdahl provides an update to the Farm Bill (potentially an extension), and we review the premium changes for crop insurance from prior years to 2025. In addition, Debby Schwarz provides a list of some of the top resources available to assist in your final push for 2025 sales close date.

Our Farm Credit teammates are earning business by using a number of different approaches. Here are a few ideas.

Need some ideas to improve your working relationship with your Lending counterparts, tune it to see how these teammates find success working hand in hand with their loan partners. 

APH Reviews and fall harvest activities are helping some of our teammates land large prospects. Try out their secret sauce in your footprint!

Debby Schwarz provides an overview of the Rainfall Index tool including the PRF Discovery Tool (quick start card), the interval quick starts and the Alert system.

Let's turn to our Farm Credit teammates to hear how they prospect for business!

Farm Bill expiration is top of mind for some folks as Alex Offerdahl provides the insights of what is setting up to be a lame duck session extension or a quick new version of the Farm Bill. Alex tackles the conspiracy theories around harvest price increase, which likely are a result of Hurricane Helene. Finally, Debby Schwarz discusses RPowerD and the price opportunities private products offer at this time of the year.

The W&A Team (Lee Friesen, Barb Enderson and Debby Schwarz) discusses the positives and negatives of lowering your base policy and adding an area plan. Their discussion includes some math of what producers could be giving up on their base policy guarantees.

As we enter the final days before September 30, Alex Offerdahl provides a quick glance at the wheat and Margin Protection projected prices. In addition, Alex provides a Farm Bill update.

The push is on to lock in final decisions for fall commodities like wheat and Margin Protection. The W&A team reviews wheat premiums for 2025 compared to the 2024 crop year. They also review a Nebraska wheat scenario and kick around some key points for Margin Protection on corn and soybeans. Will your producers be able to cover their costs with the current programs available?

Kyle Jore shares some research on why Crop Year 2024 is looking more and more like a repeat of Crop Year 2014.

ARC vs PLC, SCO, ECO, or Margin Protection? The W&A team discusses the pros and cons as we near closer to the September 30 sales close date.

The W&A Marketing team highlights some of the key Optimum resources to discuss area plans.

It’s Margin Protection time! The W&A Team review some examples and talk about key reasons producers are investing in this product.

Margin Protection can be overwhelming. Debby Schwarz and Barb Enderson address frequently asked questions in an Are you smarter than a 5th grader format. Additionally, they look at a couple of MP examples using the Margin Protection Indemnity Calculator in Agent eVantage.

It’s time to get to work and have the conversations about area plans, specifically Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO) and Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO),

Margin Protection includes inputs. What inputs are used and how are projected, and harvest prices determined? Barb Enderson provides some insight.