Total Marketable Crop

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Total. Marketable. Crop.

 

What does it mean? Total Marketable Crop, or simply “TMC,” is the framework & method that Combyne uses to track the quantity of crop that a farmer has to sell for a specific crop year. This concept encompasses everything from projected yields to harvested crop totals, whether they’re stored on-farm or off, and also extends to grains that you sell and deliver. It’s an essential tool in following the lifecycle of any given crop year from planning, to planting and harvesting, to storing; ensuring farmers maintain a comprehensive overview of their crop totals.

 

You may wonder why Combyne opts for “Total Marketable Crop” over the more traditional term “inventory.” The answer lies in how we think about managing marketing activities and their financial outcomes vs. storage and delivery logistics. “Inventory” generally refers to the current crop on hand – essentially, what’s been harvested and stored and available to fulfill deliveries. But what about marketable crops that are still in the ground, or crops already delivered to buyers? This is where TMC diverges, and provides a holistic and comprehensive view of what’s potentially available to sell or needs to be hedged regardless of physical location.

Combyne’s adoption of the TMC framework isn’t just a preference on terminology; it’s a strategic choice designed to reflect the diverse realities of farming operations. By focusing on the various marketing and hedged states of crops, Combyne ensures that the tool can accommodate the various ways farms approach their crop marketing, providing a versatile tool to do so.

 

Combyne’s long-standing goal has been to empower farmers to make informed decisions by keeping track of every bushel that is seeded, harvested, stored, hedged, priced and ultimately sold. With TMC, users of Combyne gain a holistic overview of their sold position at every stage of the crop lifecycle.

 

Moreover, Combyne adds to this holistic overview by storing and tracking all contracting, delivery and settlement documents in your Combyne account. These documents could be a grain contract, settlement, or a load ticket from delivering grain. Details from contracts uploaded into Combyne automatically update the Total Marketable Crop details, offering a real-time snapshot of the farmer’s sold position on both harvested crop and projected yields. Delivery and fulfillment tracking also keeps storage balances up-to-date where required. By combining (no pun intended) these different sources of information, Combyne ensures users can see what’s already been contracted, as well as what remains available for sale, and what remains in storage where.

The power of Combyne lies in its ability to transform how farmers approach selling their crop. When faced with inquiries about what available crop they have, farmers can confidently access up-to-date information in the palm of their hand. This readiness enables farmers to decide swiftly about sales opportunities, and assess whether it’s the right moment to sell, hold, or explore other marketing avenues like forward contracting or basis first contracts, or incorporate hedging and pricing strategies into their marketing plan.

 

In essence, Combyne and the Total Marketable Crop framework equip farmers with the information and tools needed to navigate the complexities of a modern farm. It’s about more than just organization; it’s about giving farmers control of their information and confidence to make the right marketing call. As we move forward into another planting season, consider Combyne your partner in turning informed decisions into profitable outcomes.