Corn yield contest harvest form due date extended

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. — With harvest continuing across the country, the National Corn Growers Assoc. (NCGA) will now accept online harvest forms for the 2017 National Corn Yield Contest until Dec. 1 at 4:30 pm CST.

Entrants are asked to report within two weeks of their final yield check or by Dec. 1 now, whichever comes first. The online harvest form is available to both farmers and seed representatives using the same login process as the initial entry form. Login does require submission of the entrant's NCGA membership number.

For access to contest information and a detailed list of the entry and harvest rules, visit www.ncga.com/upload/files/documents/pdf/ncyc/2017-NCYC-Entry-Harvest-Rules-04.28.17.pdf

Derivatives industry joins to launch education resource

CHICAGO, Ill. — At the recent FIA Expo, the largest gathering of futures market participants in the world, futuresfundamentals.org was launched to provide information and curriculum for learners of all levels to understand the role that derivatives markets play in the global economy and everyday lives.

With initial support from the Futures Industry Assoc., CME Group, National Futures Assoc., the Institute for Financial Markets (IFM) and CME Group Foundation, futuresfundamentals.org will be a leading online resource for derivatives education, providing interactive tools, a trading simulator and curricula for a wide variety of audiences.

"We now have a resource for market users, policymakers, educators and students, as well as the general public, to better understand how risk management markets work and why they matter to all of us, every day," said Walt Lukken, president and CEO of FIA, the leading global trade organization for the futures, options and centrally cleared derivatives markets.

"We are making this investment, along with the Institute for Financial Markets, to help tell that story, generate understanding of the impact we have and develop the next generation of market users. We hope other industry participants will join this effort."

Futuresfundamentals.org provides the following:

•Get the Basics: An introductory unit that helps professionals and students learn Futures 101 – how the marketplace, futures and options work. This covers topics such as the relationship between supply and demand and the concept of risk.

•See the Impact: Tools to discover how familiar tasks like buying food or gas, or obtaining a mortgage, are affected by futures markets. The section also provides a brief introduction of hedging and speculating.

•Explore the Marketplace: A closer look at what makes futures markets tick – from participants and key processes to policies and protections facilitated through clearing houses.

•EconEssentials: A resource for educators that provides free materials that integrate seamlessly into the classroom, including online modules and coursework to understand managing risk when buying a car, getting a student loan or starting a part-time job.