One of the most important factors when it comes to buying products far ahead of when you need them is price protection.

Basically, you can’t lose. This year, we are able to price protect you on ALL ag chem products with the exception of generic glyphosate and 2,4-D, and Roundup price protection is limited to about $1.50. What I’m saying is if our price goes down, you get the lower price PLUS a little extra based on how far back you prepaid. You can’t get that with fertilizer, which is why fertilizer purchase timing is always a little risky. With ag chem purchasing timing, now is when you should buy.

Granted, it feels like it is all negative. It’s probably bad for your mental health, and what do you really need to watch the news for anyway?

However, here were the top stories as I was writing this article in early October.

Ask yourself this question: Is it more likely that any of these things will raise ag chem prices or lower them? Exactly. When you can buy a whole host of ag chem products right now at or near all-time lows, why would you not do that?

We will always encourage you to work with your local bank. My grandpa and his brother owned a couple of banks way back in the 1970s, and local banks are important to communities. That said, many manufacturers are offering super-cheap financing right now through ag retailers. For example, BASF has a zero percent finance offer through John Deere Finance or Rabo. Zero percent! The only catch is you have to buy a certain amount of that company’s product through your retailer (hopefully that’s us).

In early October, we locked in financing for many of our inputs through these inexpensive finance programs. Buying at cash prices and paying a very low interest rate gives us a very low cost for our crop protection products. While I am certainly hoping 2025 turns out to be a great year on the farm, it’s nice to know that we’ve saved almost 10% on a net basis by buying early and taking advantage of these finance offers. Our advice to you is to utilize these programs now. While there will still be cheap financing programs in the spring, you will then pay spring prices instead of paying fall prepay prices like you can right now.

While I certainly hope nothing like that ever happens again, we all saw how quickly supplies got tight and prices went way up. When you can lock in cheap financing now, pay all-time low prices (or close) on many items, and especially when you receive price protection, you can’t go wrong. I know this is coming off as a sales pitch, but farmers say to me all the time, “Help me save money.” This is one of the best ways to do it.

For all your chemical, seed, and crop protection needs, make sure to get in contact with your local Hefty Agronomist to get the most up-to-date information on any special financing or savings that can further be applied this fall.