Applied Economics Education & Extension

an AAEA Journal

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

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.

About the Authors: Yuliya V. Bolotova (yuliya@iastate.edu) is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University.

Acknowledgments: The author acknowledges constructive comments provided by AETR Editor, Jason Bergtold, and two anonymous reviewers.

Copyright is governed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA

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