By the time the planter rolls, most marketing decisions are already harder than they need to be. Markets move fast in the spring. Weather premium builds. Headlines swing futures 20 cents in a day. And once you’re planting 1,000 acres of corn or beans, you don’t have time to sit and think through every pricing move.
That’s why the best time to build a grain marketing plan isn’t June. It’s right now, before planting starts.
A real grain marketing plan is about knowing your numbers, setting targets ahead of time, and making decisions on purpose instead of on emotion. If you grow corn and soybeans and want a plan you can actually stick to, here’s a simple framework.
Step 1: Know Your Real Break-Even Price
Every grain marketing plan starts with one number:
Your true break-even price per bushel.
Not the optimistic one. Not the “we’ll make it work” one. The real one.
To calculate it:
Break-even price = Total cost per acre ÷ Expected yield per acre
Example:
- Total cost per acre: $900
- Expected yield: 200 bu
- Break-even: $4.50 per bushel
That $4.50 isn’t emotional. It’s math.
If December corn futures are at $4.90 and your break-even is $4.50, you have a margin. That’s when planning matters. If you don’t know your cost of production down to labor, depreciation, and land cost, your marketing plan is guesswork.
This is where roots connects the dots, tying cost of production directly into pricing decisions so you’re not working off a spreadsheet from three winters ago.
Step 2: Sell in Percentages, Not All at Once
One of the biggest mistakes in grain marketing is thinking in absolutes. All sold. Nothing sold. Wait for $5.50. A more realistic grain marketing strategy is incremental.
Example framework for corn:
- 20% sold when profitable pre-plant opportunity exists
- 20% sold on spring weather rally
- 20% sold post-pollination if conditions hold
- Remaining bushels flexible
The same idea works for soybeans.
Selling in percentages:
- Reduces regret
- Reduces risk exposure
- Keeps you from chasing highs
- Locks in margins when available
Most experienced Midwest operators already do this informally. Writing it down makes it repeatable.
Step 3: Set Clear Price Targets and Triggers
A grain marketing plan needs specific triggers.
Instead of: “I’ll sell when it feels good.” Use:
- “Sell 15% at $5.00 December futures.”
- “Sell 10% if November beans hit $13.20.”
- “Review position after WASDE report.”
Spring and early summer typically bring more volatility to corn and soybean futures as weather risk enters the market. University of Illinois FarmDoc research on seasonal grain price patterns shows that pricing opportunities often emerge during this window, though, as always, no year follows a script.
If you know what price works for your farm, you won’t hesitate when it shows up.
Step 4: Connect Marketing to Cash Flow
Marketing decisions don’t live in isolation. They affect operating loan balances, interest expense, input flexibility, and working capital going into fall.
Selling 20% early may not maximize price, but it may reduce operating note pressure and strengthen your position with your lender. That’s real value, and a grain marketing plan should work alongside your cash flow plan, not against it.
Step 5: Track Contracts and Bushels in One Place
Here’s where most marketing plans fall apart.
Contracts live:
- In email
- In notebooks
- In texts from the merchandiser
- In your head
And six months later, you’re asking: “How many bushels do I actually have sold?”
A marketing plan only works if you can see:
- Total expected production
- Bushels sold
- Average sale price
- Delivery windows
- Remaining exposure
That clarity removes second-guessing. This is where roots fits naturally.
Instead of juggling spreadsheets and notes, you can:
- Track contracts in one place
- See how each sale impacts revenue per acre
- Compare price scenarios before committing
- Tie marketing directly back to cost of production
Same grain. Same market. Clearer position.
A Simple Grain Marketing Plan Worksheet
You can build this on paper today.
Crop: __________
Expected Yield: __________
Break-Even Price: __________
Target 1
Target 2
% to sell: _____
Target price: _____
Trigger: _____
Current Position
Bushels sold: _____
Average price: _____
Remaining bushels: _____
If that’s written down before planting, you’re ahead of most operations.
Why Pre-Plant Planning Matters More Than In-Season Guessing
Once planting begins, it often feels like time disappears, the weather headlines dominate, emotions creep in, and marketing becomes reactive. But with a grain plan built before planting? It’s calmer, cleaner, and more disciplined. You're not trying to outsmart the market, instead you’re protecting margin!
Where roots Helps Tie It Together
Most farms already know the pieces: Cost of production. Expected yield. Market targets. But the problem is they aren’t connected!
roots helps you:
- Link cost per acre to break-even price automatically
- Track grain contracts and positions clearly
- See how each sale changes projected revenue
- Compare “sell now” vs “wait” scenarios
If you want to see how marketing, cash flow, and cost of production work together in one place, you can learn more about roots or sign up for beta access.
Frequently Asked Questions About Grain Marketing Plans
What is a grain marketing plan?
A grain marketing plan is a written strategy outlining how much grain you will sell, at what price targets, and under what conditions. It includes break-even prices, percentage targets, and decision triggers to reduce emotional selling.
When should farmers create a grain marketing plan?
The best time to create a grain marketing plan is before planting, when acreage, crop insurance price levels, and cost of production are known. Pre-plant planning allows farmers to sell incrementally during spring volatility.
How much corn or soybeans should I forward contract?
Many Midwest corn and soybean farmers market 20–40% of expected production before harvest, depending on risk tolerance and insurance coverage. The right percentage depends on your cost of production and financial position.
How do I calculate my break-even grain price?
Break-even grain price is calculated by dividing total cost per acre by expected yield per acre.
Example: $950 cost per acre ÷ 190 bu yield = $5.00 break-even.
What tools help track grain marketing positions?
Effective grain marketing requires tracking bushels sold, average price, delivery periods, and unsold bushels in one place. Digital farm financial tools like roots can help integrate marketing decisions with cost of production and cash flow planning.