by: Molly Hamilton and Chris Reberg-Horton

Figuring out organic grain prices can simple for some and much more complex for others.  At times, it is difficult for even the buyers to know what their prices will be.  It is important, however, in marketing organic grain to know who is paying what price for which commodity.

Currently, you can get an idea of national organic grain prices at a few websites.  The first two are from USDA's Market News and the third is a link to Rodale Institute's Price Index for various sites around the country.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/gx_gr120.txt (Eastern Corn Belt)

http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/nw_gr113.txt (Upper Mid West)

http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/Organic-Price-Report

The prices on these sites, however, don't always accurately reflect what prices will be paid in NC. It is always best to call buyers to find out what they are buying, when they need product delivered (storage issues), how much they want, and how they are paying.  The cost of delivery always needs to be calculated in with the price; obviously, the closer the buyer, the lower the freight cost for the farmer.

Currently, NC wheat buyers are still able to buy, cheaply, old crop organic wheat from the mid-west, but they are buying some NC-grown wheat between $11 and $12 per bushel.  However, to storage for new crop wheat makes sense if you wish to be able to sell later in the year or in case buyers need to wait to have your crop delivered.   Prices for organic corn and soybeans probably follow the USDA Market News prices currently, but things will likely change closer to harvest time. It is always best to call buyers to ask what they are paying or what they expect to pay (knowing that may change closer to time of delivery).