CargillAg

Farming is more than growing crops and selling grain./ Sell Grain/Explore Contracts

Explore contracts.

Find the right mix of contracts to diversify your grain marketing plan.

 
A graphic showing a computer screen, with other floating elements

Diversify your grain marketing plan with contracts that fit your farm and your situation.

When you’re choosing contracts to include in your grain marketing plan, there are several factors to consider. What's your target price for your grain? How much risk are you willing to take on? How comfortable do you feel tracking the markets? Your answers to these questions will help you decide which types of contracts make the most sense in your plan.

Choosing your grain contracts.

To get started, it’ll be helpful to understand your options and how each type of contract fits in a diversified grain marketing plan.

Pie chart with the top right quarter exploded out

Lay the Foundation

Market your grain like a pro and lay the groundwork for a diverse, profitable plan with these building blocks.

Learn more about Foundational Contracts

A pie chart with the bottom right quarter exploded out

Establish the Floor

Protect yourself from the risks of volatile markets with a guaranteed minimum price for your grain.

Learn more about Floor Contracts

A pie chart with the bottom left quarter exploded out

Express Your Market Bias

Gain added control and flexibility to take advantage of opportunities and act on your market movement predictions.

Learn more about Enhance Contracts

A pie chart with the top left quarter exploded out

Keep it Simple

Choose when to set your basis or futures to establish a cash price. Simplified contracts with straightforward components.

Learn more about Traditional Contracts

MarketGuard promo image

Protect your canola crop with Cargill MarketGuard™

Add market risk protection to your canola crop. With no obligation to deliver and no contract buyout costs in the event of crop failure, Cargill MarketGuard can give you the confidence to forward contract and take advantage of seasonal highs. You buy the seed you want, contract your crop how and when you want, and Cargill shares the risk.

See how Cargill MarketGuard works

 

 

Grain marketing for every season.

To get your target price, make the most of every opportunity, and reach your profit goals, it’s important to keep an eye on your grain marketing plan throughout the year and adjust to changing market conditions. 

Here are some things you can think about in each season.

Spring (April – May) 

We know you’re busy putting down fertilizer, seeding, and setting yourself up for a successful growing season at this time of year. You’ll also see key market opportunities, so don’t forget to carve out some time to think about your grain marketing plan. 

Pro tip: Prices  tend to be highest in the spring, so this can be a great time to start pricing your grain instead of waiting for harvest-time lows.

Questions to ask

  • Are you prepared for what the late April StatsCan acreage intentions report will indicate? Do you expect prices to trend upwards in the near future based on these expectations, carry-over stocks and weather? 
  • How can you capture potential spring rallies? 
  • What time periods will be the best to lock in a narrow basis? 
  • Do you need to look at additional contracts to capture seasonal highs? 

Contract opportunities

  • Floored Contracts 
  • Premium Offer 
  • Firm Offer 

Summer (June – August)

During the growing season, you have a lot on your plate — scouting for potential pest problems, spraying in-crop herbicide and fungicide, and prepping for harvest. This is also an opportunity to start forecasting yield and emptying bins to make way for new grain. 

Pro tip: Based on historical data, prices tend to drop in August. If you haven’t already established a basis for current futures contracts, now could be the time.

Questions to ask

  • Are you prepared for the StatsCan Planted Acreage report and/or the USDA June 30 Acreage and Grain Stocks reports? 
  • Do you need to sell any remaining grain from last year to make room for the current crop?

Contract opportunities

  • Minimum Price 
  • Focal Point 

Fall (September – October)

Your hard work and preparation paid off, and it’s time to harvest your grain. Harvest means long days in the field and paying extra attention to equipment to make sure everything is in good working condition. 

Pro tip: This is the time of year when grain supply is at its highest. That typically means lower prices.  

Questions to ask

  • Are you prepared for September’s StatsCan July 31 Grain Stocks and model-based production report?
  • Do you need to deliver on any contracts during harvest? 
  • Do you need to sell any additional grain because of better-than-expected production? 

Contract opportunities

  • Pacer 
  • Minimum Price 

Winter (November – March)

Over the winter, you can take time to analyze your production, figure out what went well, make cropping plans for next year, and think through grain marketing plans for next season. 

Pro tip: The USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report is released the second week of January and the USDA planting intentions report is released on March 31. These reports, along with the early February StatsCan December 31 Grain Stocks report, can be major market movers. Consider protecting unsold bushels heading into these releases and capitalizing on market movement before and after the reports.

Questions to ask

  • When do you need cash flow throughout the winter? 
  • What percentage of grain do you want to forward contract before you head into seeding? 

Contract opportunities

  • Foundational Contracts 
  • Minimum Price 

Not sure which grain contract will work for you?

You already know the right combination of grain contracts, patience and planning can increase your profitability. Answer a few simple questions and we’ll help narrow the selection of Cargill contracts based on your responses.

What’s your market bias?

How confident are you?

How confident are you?

How are you feeling about your grain production?

How are you feeling about your grain production?

How are you feeling about your grain production?

How are you feeling about your grain production?

  • Question 1
  • Question 2
  • Question 3
  • Results

See all the possible outcomes

Find out how the contract gets recommended by downloading the decision tree below.

Download Decision Tree