Trade Agricultural Futures
Trade corn, wheat, soybeans, and other agricultural contracts with transparent commissions and competitive intraday margins.
What are Agricultural Futures?
Agricultural futures are standardized contracts that let you trade the price of farm commodities like corn, wheat, and soybeans without physically owning or storing the underlying commodity.
These contracts are listed on the CME and are among the oldest and most established futures markets in the world, with trading activity driven by weather patterns, planting and harvest cycles, and global food demand.
Most retail traders use agricultural futures to take directional positions on commodity prices or to capitalize on seasonal price trends.
Why Trade Agricultural Futures?
Access established, globally traded markets
Corn, wheat, and soybean futures are among the most actively traded commodity contracts in the world.
Go long or short based on your view
You can take a long or short position based on your market view, without owning or storing the underlying commodity.
Capitalize on seasonal price trends
Agricultural markets follow planting and harvest cycles, creating seasonal patterns that traders can research and incorporate into their approach.
Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you as well as for you.
Trade Popular Agricultural Futures
ZC
Corn Futures
Tracks the price of corn, one of the world’s most widely produced and traded agricultural commodities.
ZS
Soybean Futures
Tracks the price of soybeans, a key global commodity used in food production, animal feed, and biofuel.
ZW
Chicago SRW Wheat Futures
Tracks the price of soft red winter wheat, a globally traded benchmark for wheat markets.
ZM
Soybean Meal Futures
Tracks the price of soybean meal, a key protein source for livestock feed and a widely traded soybean byproduct.
View all available contracts
| Code | Product Name | Contract Size | Min. Tick Size | Trading Hours (CST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| /ZC | Corn Futures | 5,000 bushels | 0.25¢/bushel = $12.50 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /XC | E-mini Corn Futures | 1,000 bushels | 0.125¢/bushel = $1.25 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /ZW | Chicago SRW Wheat Futures | 5,000 bushels | 0.25¢/bushel = $12.50 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /XW | E-mini Chicago SRW Wheat Futures | 1,000 bushels | 0.00125¢/bushel = $1.25 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /ZS | Soybean Futures | 5,000 bushels | 0.25¢/bushel = $12.50 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /XK | E-mini Soybean Futures | 1,000 bushels | 0.00125¢/bushel = $1.25 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /ZL | Soybean Oil Futures | 60,000 lbs | $0.0001/lb = $6.00 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /ZM | Soybean Meal Futures | 100 short tons | $0.10/ton = $10.00 | Sun–Fri: 7 PM – 7:45 AM; Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM |
| /LE | Live Cattle Futures | 40,000 lbs | $0.025/lb = $10.00 | Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:05 PM |
| /HE | Lean Hog Futures | 40,000 lbs | $0.025/lb = $10.00 | Mon–Fri: 8:30 AM – 1:05 PM |
Start Trading Agricultural Futures
Trade Micro Ag Futures with Lower Costs
Micro Ag futures are 1/10th the size of their standard contracts, giving traders a more precise and accessible way to trade corn, wheat, soybeans, soybean meal, and soybean oil.
- Same underlying markets as the standard contracts, with proportionally smaller size and tick values
- Financially settled, meaning no physical delivery risk even if held to expiration
- A practical way to build experience in agricultural markets with less capital at risk
Start Trading Futures with a Low-Cost Broker
Open a MetroTrade account and access futures markets with low commissions, competitive margins, and a platform built for active traders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are agricultural futures?
Agricultural futures are standardized contracts that allow traders to take positions on the price of farm commodities like corn, wheat, and soybeans without owning the underlying commodity. They are among the oldest and most established futures markets in the world.
What drives the price of agricultural futures?
Agricultural futures prices are influenced by weather conditions, planting and harvest cycles, USDA crop reports, global food demand, export activity, and broader macroeconomic factors such as currency movements and energy costs. Seasonal patterns play a larger role in agricultural markets than in most other futures asset classes.
When do agricultural futures trade?
Agricultural futures have a different trading schedule from most other CME futures. Grain and oilseed contracts trade Sunday through Friday from 7:00 PM to 7:45 AM CT overnight, with a daytime session Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 1:20 PM CT. Livestock contracts like live cattle and lean hogs trade Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 1:05 PM CT only.
What is the difference between standard, E-mini, and Micro agricultural contracts?
Standard grain contracts like ZC, ZW, and ZS represent 5,000 bushels. E-mini contracts represent 1,000 bushels, and Micro contracts represent 500 bushels. Each size tracks the same underlying market with proportionally smaller tick values and margin requirements, giving traders flexibility in how much exposure they take on.
Do agricultural futures involve physical delivery?
Standard agricultural futures contracts do have physical delivery provisions at expiration. Micro Ag futures, however, are financially settled and do not involve physical delivery, even if held to expiration. Most retail traders close or roll standard contracts before expiration to avoid delivery obligations.
How much margin is required to trade agricultural futures?
Intraday margin requirements for agricultural contracts vary by contract and are updated periodically. View current requirements on our margins page.
Are there seasonal trading patterns in agricultural futures?
Agricultural markets are known for recurring seasonal patterns tied to planting, growing, and harvest cycles. For example, grain prices can be influenced by weather uncertainty during the summer growing season and tend to behave differently post-harvest. Seasonal patterns are one factor traders research, though they do not guarantee consistent outcomes.