DTN Grain Bids – Symbology

Spot and New Crop

• SPOT
  • <Commodity Name>$.<ElevatorID> for spot
    • $ = Spot Price
    • ElevatorID = 1 to 4 digits currently
    • Example: CORN$.1001
• NEW CROP
  • <Commodity Name>.<ElevatorID>
  • Example: CORN.1001

Month Symbols

• Symbols for a specific delivery period have the following format:
  • <RootSymbol><Sequence_ID><Contract_Split_MN><Begin Delivery Month or End Delivery Month><Year>.<CustomerID>
    • Where:
      • Root Symbol = DTN Root Symbol
      • Sequence_ID = 2 Digit Sequence Id
        • Valid range (1-99) and starts with 01, normally. If bids are created using different end delivery date within the same contract split month, will result with a new sequence ID to identify this new bid as unique.
      • Contract_Split_MN = Contract Split Month
        • Contract Split Month: possible values: 0, 1, or 2
          • 0 = Difference between start delivery date & end delivery date is greater than 26
          • 1 = End delivery date’s day is less than 15
          • 2 = Value wouldn’t result into 0 or 1
      • Contract_MN = Contract Month (1 character)
        • Standard month codes for futures
      • Contract_YR = 2 digit contract year
• Examples
  • Bid from ElevatorID 3451 for Yellow Corn (CY) with contract split month of 0 sequence id of 1 contract month of September and year of 10 would result in: CY010U10.3451
  • Bid to CustomerId 3451 for Corn yellow with contract split month of 1 sequence id of 1 contract month of  September and year of 10 and start, end delivery date of 09/01/2010, 09/10/2010 would result in: CY011U10.3451
  • If another bid for the same as the above-mentioned except start & end delivery date of 09/11/2010, 09/15/2010, would have resulted in the same quote symbology hence making both bids the same. Instead the bumped sequence id would result into the new symbol and unique bid: CY020U10.3451

County Average Symbols

• County average symbols have the following format:
  • Monthly Symbol
    • <MonthRoot>.<state>.<month and year>.F<FIPS>
    • Example: CY.IL.Q19.F1030
  • Monthly Basis Symbol
    • <MonthRoot>.<state>.<month and year>.F<FIPS>.B
    • Example: CY.IL.Q19.F1030.B
  • Spot Symbol
    • <CommodityName>$.<state>.F<FIPS>
    • Example: CORN$.IA.F891
  • Spot Basis Symbol:
    • <CommodityName>$.<state>.F<FIPS>.B
    • Example: CORN$.IA.F891.B

USDA Region Average Symbols

• USDA Region Average Symbols have the following format:
  • Monthly Symbol
    • <MonthRoot>.<state>.<month and year>.F<FIPS>
    • Example: CY.IL.Q19.F1030
  • Monthly Basis Symbol
    • <MonthRoot>.<state>.<month and year>.F<FIPS>.B
    • Example: CY.IL.Q19.F1030.B
  • Spot Symbol
    • <CommodityName>$.<state>.U<usda_code>
    • Example: CORN$.IA.UIL50
  • Spot Basis Symbol
    • <CommodityName>$.<state>.U<usda_code>.B
    • Example: CORN$.IA.UIL50.B

Spots vs, New Crop

Spot Prices always reflect the current month. The spot price represents what you would receive if you delivered your grain today. As the calendar month changes, the spot month updates accordingly.

Example: If today is in April, the spot price is the April bid – what you would get if you went to market right now.

New Crop is based on the commodity. The default new crop months are listed below, though a location may list a different nearby month (such as September or November for corn) depending on their preferences or regional norms.

NOTE: New crop months for Corn, Milo, Soybeans and Sunflowers may be adjusted to September or November depending on the elevator’s location or preference. Always verify with the listing if you are unsure.