Opportunities and Hurdles in Contracting Specialty Corn and Soybeans
A publication of the Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Soybean Checkoff Board

INTRODUCTION

Dear Illinois farmer:

In today’s rapidly changing economy, corn and soybean growers are now faced with more opportunities for profitability beyond producing for a commodity market. We can take advantage of new varieties that deliver specific characteristics and operate under specialty crop contracts — and at the same time build relationships with our customers. More and more specialty corn and soybeans are being positioned as alternative crops. The new modern agri-food markets have made us a critical link in a distribution chain where every link (the seed through ultimate customer satisfaction) has a significant impact on the others.

This role requires us to have assurances about all inputs, particularly the seed we plant before we explore new ways of growing and marketing our corn and soybeans. To meet our customers’ demands, we have to know more about our sources, adapt our production methods for specialty uses, and be more vigilant in our record keeping.

With these challenges, though, come opportunities to enhance profitability through the production of identity-preserved or specialty crops. This publication is designed to help you understand the risks and rewards of these new marketing strategies and to make you aware of the components of specialty contracts that will impact your ability to deliver the corn and soybeans your customers are demanding.

Sincerely,
Earl Williams, President Illinois Soybean Association
Roger Sy, President Illinois Corn Growers Association

INDEX OF TOPICS

The Big Picture: Choose Your Markets
The Audit Trail: Labeling and Traceability
Contracts for Specialty Corn and Soybeans: Your Rights, Risks and Rewards
Production Starts with the Seed: Selecting the Right Seed, Purity and Labeling Issues
Delivering Your Grain: Assuring Delivery of the Specialty Product

Complete report in PDF format: http://www.ilsoy.org/PDFFiles/OpportunitiesHurdles.pdf