Tyler Denham, Grain Merchandising Manager, Great Lakes Grain

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Harvest Is Here: Where Should You Be With Your Grain Marketing?

As harvest wraps up, it's a good time to review where you stand with your grain marketing plan and identify any adjustments that may be needed for the remainder of the marketing year. 

A successful grain marketing strategy doesn't end when the combine stops rolling. In many cases, some of the most important marketing decisions happen after harvest, when production is known and storage, cash flow and market opportunities come into focus. 

The Value of Pre-Harvest Marketing 

One of the best ways to manage risk is to market a portion of your crop before harvest begins.

This year provided several opportunities for growers to lock in profitable prices. Weather concerns across North America and Europe, geopolitical uncertainty and changing export dynamics all contributed to price strength at various points throughout the growing season.

While no one can consistently sell the highs, having sales targets and pricing portions of production throughout the year can help reduce risk and improve overall marketing discipline.

What We're Watching in the Markets

Corn

The corn market remains supported by tighter U.S. supplies compared to last year. Reduced acreage and lower yields have lowered ending stocks, helping support prices. At the same time, reduced production in parts of Europe has created additional export opportunities for North American corn. Looking ahead, production trends and domestic demand in China will remain an important factor to watch, as the country's ability to meet its own needs could influence global trade flows.

Soybeans
Soybean production is expected to be large, supported by stable yields and increased acreage.

Global attention remains focused on South America, particularly Brazil, which continues to be the largest driver of global soybean supplies. Weather during the South American growing season will play a significant role in determining price direction over the coming months.

Wheat
Wheat markets continue to be heavily influenced by global trade flows and export competition.

Production varies from region to region, with smaller crops in some areas offset by larger supplies in others. Export policies and trade activity among major producing countries will likely continue to influence wheat prices throughout the marketing year.

Understanding Market Signals

Current market signals suggest supplies are available today, while buyers are willing to pay slightly higher prices for future delivery.

Spring delivery opportunities continue to offer premiums compared to harvest pricing. However, those premiums often shrink as uncertainty is reduced and markets gain a clearer understanding of supply and demand.

For growers considering post-harvest sales, it's important to have a structured plan rather than relying solely on market rallies that may or may not materialize.

Have a Post-Harvest Marketing Plan

Just as pre-harvest sales should follow a strategy, post-harvest marketing should have defined goals and timelines.

For example, if the goal was to be 50% sold before harvest and leave 25% unsold for post-harvest opportunities, use harvest results to reassess your position. If yields exceeded expectations, consider pricing some of those additional bushels rather than carrying all of the production into storage.

Knowing your storage costs, cash flow requirements and profitability targets can help guide these decisions.

Focus on Risk Management

Grain marketing is ultimately about managing risk.

Input costs are often committed months before a crop is harvested, making it important to protect revenue opportunities throughout the growing season. Consistently making disciplined sales can be more effective than trying to predict market highs and lows.

Having a written marketing plan with price targets, sales percentages and decision points can help remove emotion from the process and keep marketing decisions aligned with business goals.

Looking Ahead to 2027 and Beyond

While harvest is still top of mind, it's never too early to begin evaluating opportunities for future crops.

Whether you're considering sales for the 2027 or 2028 crop year, developing a marketing plan early provides more opportunities to manage risk and take advantage of favourable pricing opportunities when they arise.

The market will always provide reasons prices should move higher or lower. Having a plan in place remains one of the most effective ways to navigate that uncertainty.