Grain marketing is an ancient trade, dating back to 9000 BCE. It began when farmers switched from growing a little bit of every grain to producing a lot of one type.

Grain marketing and trading happen extensively through futures contracts. These legal documents set an amount of grain and price per bushel for delivery at a future date. They buy and sell futures contracts without wanting the physical grain at play.

Grain commodities are some of the most essential on the market. They directly feed people and livestock around the globe. As such a critical piece of the economy, grain markets have many different people involved.