Guide for farmers: Achieving better sales prices and finding the ideal time to sell
Selling crops better through information advantages & timing
For many farmers, the timing of the sale determines the profit. With the right information and tools, you can significantly increase your yields. In this guide, you will learn in an easy-to-understand way how to:
1. create a market overview
The question before every sales decision is: "How are prices currently developing?"
- Monitor agricultural (real-time) prices: ZMP Live shows you market prices for grain, oilseeds, pigs, milk and potatoes. With ZMP Live+ even in real time for MATIF (Eurex). So you always know whether a good price is within reach or whether it is worth waiting or hedging.
- Read ZMP market assessments: Rely on the assessments of experts on the respective agricultural commodity. This saves you the tedious task of interpreting long reports. Compact, to the point and up-to-date information.
- Watch the ZMP news ticker & press review: The news ticker informs you about the wheat market, maize market, rapeseed market, soybean market, potato market and the dairy market. Select a product. The ticker reports are updated twice a day. The press review shows you the agricultural market assessments that are currently being published on the market.
- Use the ZMP Live Marketwatch app on the go: A highly dynamic agricultural app. Stock market data in real time. Spot market data for grain and oilseeds. The data is supplemented by financial information. Everything up-to-date on your smartphone or cell phone. Whether in the office, on the road, in the field or in the barn. Never miss an important marketing date again.
- Use agricultural price forecasting tools: With the AgriFix price tool, you can see realistic price forecasts for 1 week, 4 weeks and 3 months. This allows you to see whether the cash market data is more likely to rise or fall. The app is interactive. Join in and enter your own price expectations in the app.
2. finding the right time to sell
The perfect moment usually lies between short-term ups and downs and long-term trends.
- Keep an eye on global trends
- Many global trends have a direct impact on regional agricultural markets. This is why it is so important to use the futures exchanges to break down global agricultural market developments into a concrete picture for the regional agricultural markets.
- Pay attention to seasonal trends
- Harvest times and public holidays can depress or raise prices in the short term.
- Compare current prices with those of previous years in the same monthly period.
- Evaluate agricultural stock market price tables and charts
- Look for clear trend changes in the charts (for example, a stable upward trend after a low). A realistic trading time will then quickly become apparent. Realistic and true: You make money by choosing the right time to trade. If you make mistakes here, the best work in the stable or in the field is of no use.
- Set price targets in the chart: for example, set an upper limit (sell) and a lower limit (hold). If you do this with the ZMP brand Agrifixpreis, you will receive a push notification on your smartphone.
- Use automatic notifications
- Set your threshold value in AgriFixPreis. As soon as the market price reaches the upper limit you have set, you will receive an email or push notification.
- This means you don't have to keep checking and won't miss any good offers.
3. hedge prices and minimize risks
If you only rely on spot market prices, you run the risk of suffering losses in the event of sudden price falls. Futures markets are the most suitable instruments for assessing developments on the fundamental agricultural markets. Futures exchanges are the first to show market developments. If you can use futures market instruments, you have the opportunity to hedge your products professionally at your price expectations.
- Understanding the futures market: ZMP offers seminars together with partners to help you understand futures markets and risk management.
- ZMP live futures quotes: Here you can trade standardized contracts, (e.g. Matif wheat) covering a later delivery date. You can use this financial transaction to hedge your actual purchases or sales.
- Hedging strategy simple:
- Partial sale on the physical market via spot market sales, time-contingent delivery contracts, forward contracts, OTC, etc.
- Partial sale via futures to guarantee prices
With this dual strategy, you have secured your cash flow and at the same time benefit from possible price increases.
4. practical tips for sales success
- Briefly check market developments daily, e.g. via the ZMP news ticker and stock market prices, instead of experiencing big surprises sporadically.
- For several agricultural goods, follow the trading calendar (different harvest and delivery times).
- Plan partial sales: Don't throw everything on the market at once, but sell in tranches to cushion fluctuations.
- Network: Exchange ideas with colleagues in ZMP forums and webinars and learn from the experiences of other market participants.
ZMP Live & Tools at a glance
| Tool | Use case | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| ZMP Live Free | Basic access with delayed stock market prices | Free of charge, quick overview, no further advantages. With advertising. |
| ZMP Live+ | Professional access for traders, farmers, dealers, etc. | Fair prices, comprehensive market & price information at a glance |
| Stock exchange prices | Real-time prices for spot and futures transactions | Current data from the exchanges, MATIF real-time prices (ZMP Live+ Gold) |
| News and information | Relevant news from the agricultural markets & exchanges | Compact and up-to-date information with agricultural commodities market trends, reports, market assessments, press review & news ticker |
| AgriFixPrice | Price forecasts, watchlist & push notifications | Automatic alerts, 1 week - 3 months trends |
| Market Watch App | Mobile app with real-time data on the go | Market information at a glance, always at hand on the go |
| Widgets & APIs | Integration of prices and news into your own websites | Professional appearance, minimal effort for integration into your website or intranet |
| White label app | ZMP app as the basis for your own website | App with your corporate design and individualized content |
Get started now!
- Register for free with ZMP Live Free and check prices and news daily.
- Use the AgriFix price test phase (14 days) to get to know forecasts and notifications.
- Set your own price targets, interpret charts and activate push notifications.
- If required, learn more about futures market and hedging methods in seminars & webinars.
This allows you to keep your agricultural commodity prices under control at all times and sell at the best possible time - for more profit and less risk!
