Iowa commodity challenge launches Nov. 17
AMES – Central Iowans have to opportunity to take part in a unique educational “game” this fall and winter.
The Iowa Commodity Challenge, an online market simulation game, will give players an opportunity to learn firsthand how to improve strategies to sell cash corn and soybeans.
The game includes the use of futures and ag options as marketing tools.
Four ag marketing clubs will host meetings to launch the game. All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. with registration at the door the night of the meeting. Introductory meetings will be held:
- Nov. 14 at the Story County Extension Office in Nevada.
- Nov. 15 at the First State Bank in Lynnville.
- Nov. 16 at the Mid-Iowa Co-op Grain Merchandising office in Conrad.
- Nov. 17 at the Community Center in Ogden.
The November club meeting topic will be “Crop Marketing Outlook, Strategies and Tools,” presented by Steve Johnson, Iowa State University farm management specialist, and Ed Kordick, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.
Instructions to enroll in the Iowa Commodity Challenge, as well as a 40-page marketing tools workbook, will be given to those attending the November meetings.
The game allows participants to use a variety of tools to trade 50,000 bushels of corn and 20,000 bushels of soybeans stored at their local elevator.
“It gives players a chance to look at commodity markets and how they work over the course of several months,” Johnson said. “This game is being set up in combination with the University of Minnesota. It reflects what is going on in the real world markets so we are able to try out some strategies in a setting where we can explore how our tools work.”
The online game ends Feb. 29, when participants must have sold their stored grain and settled any of their futures or ag options traded positions.
The cost is $25 per person or $40 for a couple. Follow-up meetings are planned at the same sites in February and March.
For more information, contact the Story County Extension office at (515) 382-6551 for the Nevada meeting or the Boone County Extension office at (515) 432-3882 for the Ogden meeting.