Your new crop checklist: are you ready to start selling?
2-MINUTE READ
A little preparation now can make the difference between reacting to the market and taking control of it this harvest year. We run through a quick checklist to make sure your new crop plan is in good shape before selling gets underway.
Project realistic tonnages
Make sure you have projected tonnages for each crop based on historic yields and realistic expectations for the coming season.
You can add this figure to each crop profile on the Crops dashboard on Hectare Trading. As you begin selling your new crop, this then tells you at a glance how much you’ve sold and what remains unsold.
You can update your tonnage on Crops once you know your final yields at harvest.
The Crops dashboard also aggregates your harvested, sold and remaining tonnage across the whole harvest year, giving you a clear picture of your overall position.
Update your costs
Next, ensure your costings for harvest 2026 are up to date.
Combine fixed and variable costs to calculate your cost of production per hectare for each crop.
This is particularly important this season as fuel and fertiliser prices continue to surge. Recalculate your variable costs based on current prices – or decreased usage in response to fertiliser shortages – for a more accurate picture.
Are you ready to start marketing your 2026 crop?
Set breakeven and target prices
With projected tonnage and updated costs in place, you can calculate your breakeven price per crop.
From there, add a margin to create a realistic target price. This gives you a clear figure to work towards, rather than making selling decisions on instinct alone.
Add breakeven and target prices to each of your crop profiles on Hectare Trading. The Crops dashboard will automatically calculate the average price achieved on sold tonnage to date – and the price you need to achieve on your remaining tonnage to hit your target.
Set price alerts
Don’t miss a price rally or a short-term regional premium.
On Hectare Trading, you can set trigger prices on a range of futures contracts. You’ll then receive an alert to tell you when your price is hit – without having to constantly check Noggers Blog.
Go to Settings in the menu, then Notifications, to select your alert options.
You can also get alerts when your chosen crops are trading locally – so you can see what prices other farmers are achieving in your area – or when buyers on Hectare Trading want one of your crops.
Start selling strategically
It’s never too early to start selling new crop.
With forward contracts – agreeing a price for a future movement month – you can take a more strategic approach to selling. Focus on achieving a strong average selling price across your entire crop, rather than hitting price peaks with individual trades.
Selling your new crop in stages also spreads risk and helps protect your margins if markets turn. With the Crops dashboard, you can easily track your grain marketing progress as the season unfolds.
Realistic tonnages, reliable costs and clear targets provide the foundation for confident selling. With those basics in place, you’re far better equipped to make the most of opportunities when they appear – rather than chasing them after the fact.
Did you know you can post a listing directly from a crop record on Hectare Trading? Update your details for harvest 2026 and start selling new crop today.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the content at the time of publication, Hectare Trading makes no guarantee regarding the data provided.