The grain futures markets includes: corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, and oats.
The major exchange where they trade is the Chicago Board of Trade. The commodity markets provide a global benchmark for
pricing, help manage volatility, and allow producers to manage risk.
The
grains are the bellwethers of the foods and are the staples of the simplest of diets. Grains provide food, feed, and
even fuel. There are many factors that affect the price of grains including: temperature, precipitation, changing customer
needs, substitute products and new market participants. Futures contracts on the regulated commodity exchanges are a
way to get positioned to trade grains.
