Teaching and Educational Methods
Teaching Agricultural Marketing and Production Contracts in Undergraduate Courses in Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics Programs
Yuliya V. Bolotova(a)
(a)Iowa State University
JEL Codes: A2, Q02, Q12, Q13
Keywords: agricultural contracts, price mechanisms, risk management
First Published Online: March 25, 2026
View Full Article (PDF) | Request Teaching Notes/Supplemental Materials
Abstract
This article presents lecture materials for teaching agricultural marketing and production contracts in undergraduate courses in agribusiness and agricultural economics programs. These materials can also be utilized as educational materials in Extension and outreach programs. The content includes: (1) discussion of the contracts’ main terms; (2) introduction to marketing (forward) contracts as contracts for the sale of goods and overview of the design of their price mechanisms; (3) introduction to production contracts, the rationale for using them, compared to marketing contracts, and overview of the design of their payment systems; (4) caveats and practical advice; and (5) implementation guidance. The teaching note includes two real-world sample contracts, a milk supply agreement and a broiler production agreement, and two contract checklists to evaluate their terms. It also includes multiple-choice questions and answer keys for all assessments.
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