Cash forward contracts
A forward contract sets the full price (futures + basis) today for grain you deliver later. Price is locked both ways, and you must deliver the bushels.
A cash forward contract sets the whole price, futures plus basis, now, for delivery at a set time and place later.
Upside: you know your price, and there's no margin account. Downside: if prices rally, you don't get the higher price on those bushels, and you must deliver the contracted bushels even if your crop comes up short.
Many farmers only contract bushels they're confident they'll raise, often based on their crop insurance guarantee.
Next: Hedge-to-arrive (HTA)
General education about how marketing tools work. Not advice to buy, sell or hedge; talk with your elevator, broker, lender or crop insurance agent about your own situation.