Grain marketing is one of the biggest challenges any farmer faces. The goal of our grain team is to help growers devise a marketing plan that helps you price your bushels at a profit, potentially utilizing a floor under your income while allowing you to take advantage of short-term price moves.

Gerald Grain Center, Inc has the facilities and staff for all your grain handling, storage and marketing needs. With multiple locations throughout north-west Ohio, we’re never far away. Your deliveries can be applied to contracts you may have with us or put into delay price or storage until market prices reach your goals. We have a wide variety of grain contracting options available to help achieve your marketing objectives including: 

GRAIN CONTRACTS

Basis Contract

This contract is used most when future prices are low. Growers lock in the basis for a specific delivery period with futures to be set at a later time.

Hedge-to-Arrive

Producers choose this contract when future prices are high. Futures market price is locked in while leaving the basis open to be set at a later time.

 

Open Order Contracts

This is a great option for producers not wanting to constantly monitor the market. Once the current or future cash price reaches a predetermined level, the producer sells a specific amount of bushels.

Forward Contracts

Grain is sold for a future delivery period. Cash price, quantity, and delivery period are all specified in the contract.

Deferred Payment

Arrangement whereby a producer receives payment in a later tax year.

Minimum Price Contracts

Contracts where you can set a minimum price for grain delivered to the elevator and minimize downside risk with upside price potential.


ACCUMULATOR CONTRACTS

Accumulator contracts can be modified to fit each grower's specific needs. Accumulator contracts are available for corn, beans, and wheat. These can be written with a weekly double up or a double up at the end. Some include a guarantee and others do not. Please contact your specific branch for updated quotes or more questions.

MIN/MAX CONTRACTS

The goal of a Min-Max contract is to lock in a floor price while providing for limited upside market potential. A Min-Max Contract establishes a floor price for corn at a reduced cost. It allows you to participate in potential market increases up to a pre-determined maximum price.
Under this contract, a producer agrees to deliver a specific quantity and quality of corn for either nearby or future delivery at an established floor price. The contract leaves the potential to increase the cash price up to a maximum price. The premium is deducted from the contract base price.

Advantages of the Min-Max Contract                                          

  • There is the ability to participate in a market rally until option expiration
  • Premiums are deducted from the contract price, not paid up front
  • The producer determines what minimum and maximum strike prices will be
  • Producers can attach basis at any time prior to delivery
  • There is no storage or dp charges and minimum price can be advanced at the time of delivery
  • Producers reduce the cost of establishing a floor price for their corn
  • Either portion min or max can be traded out of at any time at market value up until expiration

Key Issues and Risks Under the Min-Max Contract         

  • Premiums are surrendered if the market does not rally by option expiration
  • There is a single “window of time” to take advantage of a market rally, but prices may rise and fall during the period, resulting in receipt of the minimum price at option expiration
  • If the market goes above the predetermined maximum strike price, the producer only receives the maximum strike price
  • Futures will be priced on option expiration date