Futures Prices for Farmers

Farmer’s Market Snapshot

Today’s front months across revenue crops and key input costs.

Grain & Oilseeds

Track corn, soybeans, wheat (SRW/KC/Minny), and canola—your core revenue crops. Use these prices to plan sales, manage risk, and line up basis with local cash bids.

Livestock

Track feeder cattle, live cattle, and lean hogs. Use these prices to manage livestock risk and plan sales.

Dairy

Watch Class III & IV milk plus whey, butter, and powder. Helpful for timing milk sales and managing margins when feed costs shift.

Energy

Keep an eye on diesel (ULSD), propane, gasoline, and crude—big drivers of fuel and drying costs. Tracking energy next to grain helps protect your overall margin.

Fertilizer

Watch Urea, UAN, and DAP prices closely. These inputs significantly impact your production costs, so understanding their trends is crucial for effective budgeting.

Currencies

Monitor USD/CAD exchange rates, especially if you buy inputs or sell outputs across the border. Currency fluctuations can impact your profitability.

Contract Roll Calendar

Avoid delivery risk and expiry surprises. Here are common markets, months, and typical roll windows. For exact FND/LTD dates and tick specs, open the contract specs.

Corn

Grain & Oilseeds • CBOT ZC

Contract Months

Mar • May • Jul • Sep • Dec

New‑Crop Reference

Dec

FND/LTD (typical)

Month‑prior FND; LTD mid‑month.

Recommended Roll Window

Roll ~5–10 trading days before FND/LTD.

DISCLAIMER: Dates and roll windows are guidelines. Always confirm FND/LTD and holidays on your exchange calendar or with your broker.

FAQs

What futures matter most to grain farms?

For most grain operations, start with revenue markets and the input markets that drive costs.

  • Revenue: Corn, Soybeans, Wheat (Chicago/SRW, Kansas City/HRW, Minneapolis/HRS). Canadian growers should also track Canola.
  • Key inputs (costs): ULSD (diesel) for fuel, Propane for grain drying, and Fertilizer (Urea, UAN, DAP).
  • Also useful: Natural Gas (fertilizer feedstock), Crude/Refined products (broader energy trend), and USD/CAD if you sell or buy across the border.

How do I use futures to estimate cash price?

Use your local basis to translate board price to a farmgate estimate.

Formula: Estimated Cash = Futures + Basis

  • Pick the delivery month your buyer is quoting.
  • Find the current futures price for that month.
  • Add your local basis (it can be negative or positive).

Example: If Dec Corn = $5.20 and your basis is –$0.25, estimated cash ≈ $4.95.

Tip: Basis changes over time—always check posted bids for actual offers.

What affects basis in my area?

Basis = local reality. Common drivers:

  • Local supply & demand: harvest pressure, on-farm/storage availability, end-user needs.
  • Logistics: rail/barge capacity, river levels, truck availability, diesel costs.
  • Buyer competition & margins: ethanol/crush plants, mills, exporters.
  • Quality & specs: moisture, protein, damage.
  • Seasonality & weather: storms, freeze/thaw, road bans.
  • Currency: USD/CAD shifts can move cross-border basis.

Should I track diesel/propane alongside grain prices?

Yes. They’re big, volatile input costs. Watching ULSD (diesel) and Propane next to grain helps you:

  • Budget and lock in fuel/drying costs when prices dip.
  • Protect margins by timing purchases relative to crop price moves.
  • Plan harvest/drying with fewer surprises.

Which months are “new-crop” vs “old-crop”?

“Old-crop” = grain already in the bin/current marketing year. “New-crop” = the upcoming harvest. Typical references:

  • Corn: Dec = new-crop; Mar/May/Jul = old-crop.
  • Soybeans: Nov = new-crop; Jan/Mar/May = old-crop.
  • Wheat:
    • Chicago SRW & KC HRW: Jul = new-crop; May (and earlier) = old-crop.
    • Minneapolis Spring Wheat (HRS): Sep = new-crop; May/Jul = old-crop.
  • Canola (ICE): Nov = new-crop; Jan/Mar/May = old-crop.

Note: Local harvest timing and buyer conventions can vary—match the month your buyer uses.

DISCLAIMER: The grain price information provided on Farmbucks.com is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time. Prices are sourced from participating grain companies, verified farmer reports and our trusted partners such as Barchart and DTN. While we work to ensure accuracy, discrepancies may occur between the prices listed on this website and those provided by grain buyers. Users are responsible for contacting the purchaser directly to confirm current prices and selling instructions. Farmbucks does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the prices displayed and assumes no liability for decisions made based on this information.

Futures Market Data: Futures price data on Farmbucks is provided by DTN, CME Group, and ICE. This data is for informational purposes only and may be subject to delays or inaccuracies. Please consult official exchange sources or your broker for trading decisions.

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