A Marketing Plan For North Carolina Corn Producers

This publication describes an integrated corn marketing plan and provides worksheets for use in developing the plan. A marketing plan provides a systematic method for evaluating all marketing alternatives and choosing a strategy that helps you obtain the most profit from your crop. The marketing plan consists of five sections, each covering a different aspect of the marketing decision process. First, a breakeven price for corn production is developed. In the next two sections, marketing alternatives for the crop before harvest, while it is still in the field, and after harvest during storage, are evaluated, given current market conditions. Fourth, an income statement is developed that splits income between production and storage to provide an important overview of the profitability of the entire operation. Finally, a cash flow accounting section is included to ensure proper timing of inflows and outflows. An additional aspect of this plan is that it is available as a computer Spreadsheet. This provides the plan with increased speed and hence flexibility. After the current market situation has been inputted, new price information can be added as needed and the impact on all marketing alternatives can be evaluated in a matter of seconds.