AgYield Simulator
The AgYield Simulator gives users the opportunity to test different marketing methodologies through simulated growing seasons. A simulated growing season is broken down into 36 periods from March 1st to November 7th with each period representing a week. Users test production and marketing decisions based on commodity prices, USDA reports, weather and other variables. A game administrator can set the parameters (number of acres, crops, expenses, etc). Players can learn to manage their operations in the face of constantly changing variables. The simulation will teach participants how to successfully manage their revenue and mange risk by utilizing all of the tools available including crop insurance, cash grain contracts, and futures and options contracts. Throughout the simulation users have access to AgYield’s Profitability Outlook where they can stress test decisions across all price and yield scenarios before finalizing any transactions. Outside of the AgYield simulator, Trading commodity futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors.
A game administrator has to ability to create custom games, invite users and monitor activity throughout the competition. The administrator can select the start date, acres, crops, cost of production, starting basis, market scenario, maximum number of contracts allowed, maximum future/options loss, and commission rate. The administrator can advance the game at his/her discretion or have the game automatically advance based on a time frame they select.
As the AgYield Simulator progresses, users will face constant changes in price, basis, expected yield, county yields, weather and reports based on actual historical data.
The AgYield Simulator Dashboard view shows users their current profitability, change from the previous week, ranking, market data, and event calendar. In the event calendar, users can view the weekly sales, crop conditions, WASDE reports, and planting progress reports that are available for the current period.
The AgYield Simulator enables users to use AgYield’s Profitability Outlook. The Profitability Outlook allows users to know where their profitability stands at all price and yield scenarios. In this section users can create and test different strategies to minimize any risk areas. With the What If Calculator, users can see how any marketing decision will affect their account before they ever make a final decision. Users can enter cash sales, futures and options contracts and instantly see how these transactions will affect their profitability. Producers can also enter in various crop insurance plans to see the different levels of protections offered in the policies.
In AgYield the account summary, you are able to see where you currently stand. You can monitor the profitability of your account with the snapshot summary of your marketing activity. See the value of unsold crops, value of hedged positions, estimated indemnity payments for your crop insurance, as well as production costs.
AgYield’s resources section is filled with educational material on key topics to help you get started with your marketing plan. Here you can study different commonly used strategies and learn how to utilize all available tools to help you get started.
All AgYield Simulator Challenges are done in simulated market environment. In non-simulated market environment, trading commodity futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge, and financial resources. This brief statement does not disclose all of the risks associated with trading commodities, futures, and options.
**Trading commodity futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors**
