U Of M Extension Updates Grain Marketing Game
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The University of Minnesota Extension Service has relaunched an online trading game that puts players in the boots of a grain farmer.
Commodity Challenge is used in high school and college classrooms, and by farmers, to learn about marketing strategies. It's been described as "fantasy grain marketing."
Grain marketing specialist Edward Usset says the newly updated Commodity Challenge lets players experience the pain and glory of grain trading without the risk. While other games concentrate on a speculative buy low, sell high approach, he says this one focuses on using futures and options contracts to manage price risk.
The game also features real-time cash, futures and options quotes for corn, soybeans and wheat.
Commodity Challenge remains free. It was played last year by more than 1,500 people in 12 states.
