Volatile crop prices require sharp marketing skills. That's why playing MarketMaxx, the virtual marketing game from The Corn And Soybean Digest, should be on top of your list of things to do.

If you're not already registered, sign-up at www.MarketMaxx.net by May 31. Here you'll find a tutorial on playing the game, an extensive marketing library and glossary and guidance on how to write and implement a marketing plan. You'll also receive a biweekly newsletter featuring news that can impact corn and soybean markets.

When you sign up you're given a simulated 100,000 bu. of corn and 50,000 bu. of soybeans to sell in the game. At the site, you can check the leader boards and find out where you stand in the competition, as well as read marketing commentary from Al Kluis of Northland Commodities, Minneapolis, MN, and Kevin McNew of Cash Grain Bids, Inc.

As a player, you'll be competing for the grand prizes of an AGCO Gleaner R5 or A5 series combine (not to exceed 100 combine separator hours) in the corn contest, or an AGCO RT or DT tractor (not to exceed 250 hours) in the soybean contest.

Second place prize for each category is a complete computer system including software from Syngenta Crop Protection. Along with AGCO Gleaner, AGCO Tractors and Syngenta Crop Protection, Cargill Certified SolutionPro is also a MarketMaxx 2007 sponsor.