Grain Journal - January/February 2009 - (Page 94) COMPUTER SOFTWARE CASE STUDY Hedging Tools OAKLAND SOFTWARE BOOSTS EFFICIENCY, FREES UP TIME AT IOWA COOPERATIVE Time is money, and when Dean Kohlmeyer, grain division manager at StateLine Cooperative, Burt, IA, is using the Bid Page of Oakland Corporation’s Grain Manager, he saves both. Oakland’s software provides the tools for Kohlmeyer to monitor grain contracted at any of StateLine’s 12 grain elevators and quickly hedge. “We were able to eliminate all ontime quote systems at our elevator locations, at a considerable cost savings to StateLine Coop members,” says Kohlmeyer, who joined the cooperative in 2001 and had used Oakland software at a previous employer. “We also were able to reduce the risk of hedging by knowing what to hedge at the same moment the grain is bought.” Hedging Tools “The software allows instant access to bids from any point in the system, from any StateLine facility, with a keystroke,” he explains. “With users quoting accurate prices to the producer and using the Oakland software to contract grain immediately, we can reduce our risk. Short module. “You can simply look at one screen and two numbers to hedge both corn and beans,” he says. That frees up time for the hedger, whose productivity is increased by being able to undertake other responsibilities. “I like the individualized service and Oakland’s responsiveness to my questions,” he says. “The Oakland support team is like part of my own accounting staff. “The software is constantly improving, and Oakland is very open to my input,” he relates. “I use my home computer frequently for company business, and the Oakland technicians helped me set up a reliable, secure connection to the StateLine network. I would highly recommend the system.” Kohlmeyer also used the Oakland customer information option to maintain important contact with his customers. This option lists current grain contracts with farmers and allows comments to be written when needed. “We can see the last time we talked with an individual about an open grain position and be more proactive in marketing to the farmer,” he says. StateLine Grain Division Manager Dean Kohlmeyer. “Furthermore, accurate and timely information is available to the hedger, and we have eliminated the risk of buying grain at a negative margin,” says Kohlmeyer, “especially in case of a surprise in a USDA report or buyers changing their basis bids.” Kohlmeyer says the Oakland system, which the cooperative has used since its inception in 1996, enables him to view the customer’s “SettleAvailable,” showing what the customer has delivered, create a purchase contract, and hedge it from the same platform. Kohlmeyer’s other Oakland tool for hedging is the Combined Long & Grain Company StateLine Cooperative Burt, IA • 515-924-3555 www.statelinecoop.com Larry Sterk, CEO/General Manager Dean Kohlmeyer, Grain Division Manager Chuck Peter, Agronomy Division Manager Cherilyn Krichau, Feed Division Manager Founded: 1996 Storage capacity: 19 million bushels at 12 facilities Annual volume: 25 million bushels Number of employees: 120 Crops handled: Corn, soybeans Services: Grain handling, agronomy, swine feed 94 GJ J/F Software Vendor Story City, IA 800-383-5114 www.oaklandcorp.com Roger Oakland, President • Chuck Carlson, VP-Operations Arlen Oakland, Sales Rep. Operating systems: Linux server, Windows clients Software features: Fully integrated Oakland Accounting, Grain, Agronomy, Fuel, Patronage, and Payroll. Live Commodity Bids, Regular & Prepaid Bookings, Degree Day, Fuel Truck POS, and patron web access at www.farmerdata.com. Multiple Interfaces available. http://www.oaklandcorp.com http://www.statelinecoop.com http://www.oaklandcorp.com http://www.farmerdata.com
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