If you are interested in trading Oat futures it is helpful to become familiar with the history of the Oat market. The CBOT Oats Contract is the global benchmark for the pricing of oats. The size of the oats contract translates into a relatively small underlying value per contract, making it attractive for hedgers and speculators alike, providing easy market access for global participants small and large.

Oats are grown primarily in Europe and North America. These areas have the cool, moist climate to which oats are best adapted. Russia, Canada, the United States, Finland, and Poland are the leading oat producing countries.

A large set of commercial market participants, including farmers, elevator operators, feed lots, exporters and a diverse set of institutional participants underscores the importance of oats futures and options markets ensuring highly efficient pricing and continuous liquidity.