Gift Ideas for that hard to buy for farmer in your life

Dec 16, 2014

Online Gifts in Agriculture

by Denise Faguy, Farms.com

Looking for something thoughtful yet practical to give the farmer in your life? Like many people, farmers often prefer practical gifts. Sometimes gifts related to the farm business may be the perfect gift, gifts the farmer may not want to “treat” themselves to, but they will still appreciate.

As we get closer to Christmas, and last minute online shopping is your only option, try the following gift ideas.

Get them a paid subscription to an expert who follows the markets. Most farmers are great at the day-to-day operations of their farms, and planning for the year ahead. They are, however, often intimidated by the commodities markets. Yet most commodity experts believe farmers could easily increase the profits on their farm by watching the markets more closely, and booking their crop/livestock or feed prices at the right time. A newsletter subscription that simplifies this market information could be the perfect gift. Farms.com Risk Management offers such subscriptions, but of course, there are many such offerings offered in the agriculture industry – choose the subscription that best meets the needs of the farmer.

A registration to an agricultural conference may also be a gift that will be appreciated well after the holidays are finished. Are they farmer a member of a particular association that has one or more conferences or seminars? Have they mentioned that they would like to improve in a particular area, or explore a new crop or farming technique, is there a conference registration that could help them fulfill that goal? Precision agriculture is the latest trend in agriculture, here is a list of precision agriculture conferences in North America:

Why not buy them a subscription to a farm magazine – maybe an international farm magazine to give them a different perspective on farm issues. There are also a number of free electronic newsletters on agriculture. (View all Farms.com free agriculture subscriptions.)

Has the farmer been trying to sell a piece of farm equipment? Buy them a classified ad in a local farm publication.

Is there an agriculture software program that would make their life easier? Get them the software.

When all ideas have been exhausted, or when you want to add one more gift under the Christmas three for the farmer in your life who has everything, consider making a donation in their name to a farm charity.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.