A Note from the Founder of HPG LLC; Patrick J. Hayes:
At Hedge Plus Group, we realize that things have changed in the farm marketing of grains and oil seed products. From the late 1970’s to around 2004, your markets were stuck in a bearish fundamental market; a market in which normal production outpaced demand. In this environment certain farm marketing tools were proven effective in helping you market your crop. Seasonal trends could be counted on, as well as lack of volatility and other long held tools, helping make farm marketing somewhat dependable.
Starting in 2004, these trusted farm marketing tools and approaches became less and less dependable. The advent of cheap prices for such a long period of time created new long-term demand. This new and greater demand has created, for the first time in decades, volatility and uncertainty in our markets.
The surprise to many is that higher prices have led to greater risk. Stable input cost disappeared as fast as low prices. As an example, many producers were hurt by their crop sales more in 2008 than ever before, even though new highs were available. The reason was poor timing, as some bought input costs at highs in the summer of 2008 and sold their crop too late after prices had collapsed. The risk in farm marketing has never been greater.
At Hedge Plus Group, we saw a need to offer a program that was different and more equipped to handle the new market conditions. The Hedge Plus Complete Program is that program. Individual attention is the center stone to the program with each market advisor at Hedge Plus Group working with about 1/10th the number of clients of their peers to give each client the one to one advice that fits their operation. How can we give such individual attention? It’s simple, our Hedge Plus Complete advisors are paid a percentage when their Hedge Plus Complete clients renew. We take the emphasis off commissions by greatly reducing Hedge Plus Complete clients commission fees. The advisor’s attention is on You, not on trading.
Remember if you always do what you did, you will always get what you got. Also, remember that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. At Hedge Plus Group, we are here to offer you something different.
Hedge Plus Complete Program
Hedge Plus Complete is a fee-for-service program where hedge recommendations are tied directly to your cash sales. A customized marketing plan is designed around YOUR operation and YOUR needs. Pat and his team will communicate to you all market recommendations that affect your bottom line. All hedge and cash recommendations are communicated directly to you and individualized with you in order to gain YOUR approval. You remain the boss, so you are basically hiring us on as a part of your operation to help with your marketing.
The majority of our clients are in this program because they enjoy the cash sale recommendations and cheap hedging fees. We can help you by being your eyes and ears with the goal of selling your cash crops at a higher price and we are using all tools available to add value and manage risk with the hedge account. We get to know you and your operation really well, so we know when your crop has to be sold and what kind of risk you are willing to take in your hedge account.
- 4 cents per bushel annual fee – based on average production ($3000 Minimum Annual Fee)
- Reduced trade commissions- $30.00 round turn fee
- Includes the Hedge Plus Group Report
- Hogs and Cattle (reduced grain fees applied when combined with Hogs and Cattle)
- Cash Sale Alerts, Via Broadcast message
Hedge Plus Group Report
The Hedge Plus Group Report is a weekly publication providing our market advisors’ insight and recommendations designed to help you become a better marketer. The report focuses on the bottom-line factors that affect price direction by analyzing fundamental factors and providing you with technical charts to help you better understand pricing opportunities. The Hedge Plus Group Report offers general recommendations for farmers so you know what’s driving the markets. The report can be emailed to you or is available on our website. Along with the weekly report, we also provide daily opening and closing comments to keep you as current as possible on our market thoughts.
- One year subscription to the HP Group Report through our Website is $800
Includes access to:- Daily Opening and Closing Comments
- Hedge Plus Group Report posted on our website every Thursday afternoon
- Weekly Broadcast messages
- Cash Sale Alerts, via Broadcast message
- One year subscription to the Hedge Plus Group Report with Retail trading account is only $400 (all the same access)
- INCLUDED to clients enrolled in the Hedge Plus Group Complete Program
Our Team
Patrick J Hayes
Owner of Hedge Plus
I started Hedge Plus in June of 2007 with the goal of being the best marketing firm in the business. Today, I continue to strive to reach that goal.
I was the eighth child of nine born into our Hayes family. I remember learning to compete and fight for what you wanted at an early age. Heck, competing for enough food at the dinner table was a battle with 4 older brothers and 3 older sisters.
I have said many times, and I truly believe it, that trading is the last form of pure competition in the world. I have always loved to compete and, therefore, it was natural for me to be drawn to working in commodities. To get a trade complete, there has to be someone willing to take the opposite side of you and at the price both of you think is a winner. What dictates who wins and who loses is based on smarts, research, dedication, hard work and fortitude. I love that challenge.
I first learned about trading way back in the 70’s from my father and, since then, I have been a speculator or/and advisor. There hasn’t been a year since 1979 (the year I graduated from college) that I haven’t traded.
I love my wife of 37 years, Jackie, and my two daughters, Callie (23) and Ana, our jock (17). I am super proud of being married and committed to Jackie. I got the deal of a lifetime when she said yes back in December of 1981. We tried for 15 years to start a family before Jackie was able to carry Callie to term and give us a child, and we are so blessed. Five years later, we were able to add a newborn spitfire from Guatemala, Ana, to complete our family.
I love playing sports with Ana and debating Callie, and I spend most of my free time in such pursuits. My wife and I love movies, trips and just hanging out. We are pretty much home bodies, and we love it!
In reality, I love what I am doing. There are days I am up and at work before the birds are singing anticipating another day of doing what I was meant to do. There will be no one who works harder for you than I do because I love working and winning for you.
Anthony Krocak
IB Manager & Supervisory Principal
I started at Hedge Plus in 2016 with a goal to become an industry leading Market Advisor. I will always look for new opportunities to learn so that I can maintain and sharpen my skills.
In 2023, I’ve taken on the additional responsibility at Jackson as Manager and Supervisory Principal. I have over 10 years of management experience from my previous job as the Director of Admissions at a local college. My management background, coupled with the market advisor knowledge, make this a smooth transition for myself and Hedge-Plus.
My main concentration is getting the best marketing information in the hands of my clients and potential clients so they can make the correct marketing decisions for their operation. I customize all advice so that it fits the specific needs of my clients, and I expect the same from all Advisors at Hedge Plus.
I grew up just outside Mankato, Minnesota. The many sports I played growing up included baseball, handball, and golf. These sports helped me develop my competitive nature, which has carried over to my work life. I would classify myself as ultra-competitive.
I’ve been married to my wife Jennifer for 21 great years and have a beautiful daughter, Olivia (17). Some of our favorite family activities are bonfires, listening to music, hiking with our dog, and watching Olivia play any of the many sports she’s involved in.
I really love what I do here at Hedge Plus! The feeling that every day is another opportunity to compete and add to the bottom line for my clients is a very rewarding experience.
Codi Rodriguez
Compliance Manager & In-House Cyber Security Specialist
I received an academic scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University where I received my bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security. They are one of the top three programs in the country for that field of study and I really enjoyed what I learned. I excel in academic research, analysis, and writing. Before my start at Hedge Plus, I had various jobs but worked as a corporate ‘loan shark’ and tutor for most of that time. I’m a problem-solver, critical thinker, and always willing to take tasks head on.
I started out at Hedge Plus as an Administrative Assistant, helping our sales staff and advisors, opening new client accounts, process paperwork, margins, and deposits. In 2019, I took on the role of our In-House Cyber Specialist. In 2020, I took the opportunity when presented to also assist in the Compliance role for the firm and in Fall of 2022, I took that role on full-time. I have enjoyed my time at Hedge Plus, and I feel blessed to work for a company that allows me to continue to grow professionally!
In my free time, I love to work out and go to the gym. I also love to travel and frequent Miami and the Caribbean. I love spending time with my family and boyfriend. I have an 8-year-old teddy bear dog, Ruxpin, who’s spoiled rotten, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Jason Gehler
Senior Service Advisor and Author Since 2007
I began my farm marketing career in 2006 under the tutelage of Hedge Plus owner, Patrick Hayes. I have been with Hedge Plus since day one, starting as Patrick’s right-hand man to now working with my own clients, as well as authoring daily market commentary and the weekly Hedge Plus Report.
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2005 with a degree in Agricultural Business Management and it was there I learned a great deal about commodity trading and how it applies to the farm operation. My focus is helping farmers pull the trigger on cash sales for crops and livestock at the right times throughout the year and using the hedge account as a tool to add value back to the bottom line and hedge downside risk when necessary. I enjoy the challenge of working with markets where no one knows what might happen next. If my clients can feel more comfortable with their marketing, better informed before making decisions and feel like someone’s got their back, I have done my job.
Away from work, my wife Maggie and I are cheering on our kids at soccer, baseball, softball and volleyball games. Makenna is 12, Camden is 9 and Heidi is 7. I was a pretty good golfer before kids.
Jonathan Long
Marketing Advisor and Lead Sales Associate
I graduated from the University of Detroit with a Major in Finance and Mechanical Engineering.
I started my professional career designing engines but made my way back to the financial side of the world several years ago when I was looking for a new professional challenge. I had been trading for myself for several years and had been taking many trading classes to gain a better understanding of how the markets move and several factors that help form these moves.
I joined Hedge Plus in 2015 and now work with a team of professionals I respect and admire. I have a much better appreciation for the commodity markets as well. I try to assess and bring a difference of understanding to these volatile markets, and I try very hard to present all the options to my clients. I use my scientific background to address our client and farm operation needs. I want my clients to have a comfort level in all the transactions we make.
Each client has an opportunity to see how I can help their portfolio grow. It’s exciting for me when I see them understand and join in the “fun.” The Hedge Plus Team is a great place to experience that! Come join us!
Steve Lisak
Sales Associate Since 2014
I was introduced to farming early. My mother’s family were dairy farmers in the Oshkosh, Wisconsin area and I spent many summer days helping on the farms. Milking, picking stones, and spreading manure was time well spent. It taught me hard work and an appreciation for the farming life. The US Army Signal Corps took me into telecommunications and after graduating from Milwaukee School of Engineering I worked for MCI/Verizon, Qwest, and Windstream in various engineering and sales roles.
I joined the team at Hedge Plus in April 2014 and focused on helping farmers learn about Hedge Plus and how we can improve their marketing and increase their bottom line. Recently, I have been assisting Senior Advisors with account management and trading activities.
Away from work I enjoy time with family and friends. I have been married for 21 years to Jeanne and together we have two grown daughters and a very energetic 3-year-old granddaughter. I love to spend my free time with my family and in the outdoors hunting and fishing or watching the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, and the Iowa Hawkeyes (daughter is an alumna).
I take pride in providing our clients with timely market information and a commitment to finding solutions to lower their risk. My best day at work is helping a farmer improve their bottom line.
Laura Kraus
Administrative Assistant
My work at Hedge Plus is to assist the owner and service/sales advisors in bringing our best service to you, our clients and prospective clients. This would include editing and sending out our daily and weekly reports written by Jason Gehler, as well as posting them on our website. I also work with our advisors to open new hedge accounts for customers who decide they want us to work with them. I have been with Hedge Plus since September of 2015.
Prior to this, I worked as a medical transcriptionist for 20 years. I loved working in that field, but unfortunately voice recognition became the new thing and transcriptionists were no longer needed. Although it was hard to “start over” in a new career, it has been a blessing to work for Hedge Plus, and I love the people I work with! Everyone works together as a team to always put our clients first.
My life outside of work is my family. I have been blessed with three wonderful sons, Josh, Danny and Joey. Raising three boys was an interesting and challenging experience, but we had fun and I made it! 🙂 I have four awesome grandchildren, Kaleb, Marissa, Elijah and Ezrakai, and they make sure things don’t get too quiet for me. My husband and I love to hike in the woods, fish and hang out with family and our Golden Retriever, Bailey.
With the hills and valleys in life that we all experience, I have learned to enjoy the simple things in life and my motto has become “One Day at a Time.”