Comparison Tool

Co-op Pre-Pay vs Spot Price Comparison

Compare your co-op pre-pay offer versus expected spring spot pricing to calculate the real savings or risk.

Co-op Pre-Pay vs Spot Comparison

Input product

Volume (tons or gallons)

Co-op pre-pay price ($/unit)

Expected spring spot price ($/unit)

Months until delivery

Your cost of capital (%/year)

Pre-pay total cost—

Financing cost of pre-pay capital—

Pre-pay true cost (with financing)—

Expected spot purchase cost—

Net savings from pre-buying—

This calculator accounts for the time value of money — locking up capital early has a cost. A pre-pay discount needs to exceed your cost of capital to be truly beneficial. Current spring 2026 Corn Belt defaults: Anhydrous $960/ton pre-pay vs $1,040/ton spot.

Get Weekly Buy/Hold Signals for Every Input

GrainBrief tracks fertilizer prices weekly and sends you an automated signal. Use this calculator with live price alerts to make better purchase decisions.

Get This Week's Free Signal Brief