Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this Quarterly Report (the “Report”). The discussion and analysis which follows may contain trend analysis and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial results. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “outlook” and “estimate,” as well as similar words and phrases, signify forward-looking statements. Teucrium Commodity Trust’s (the “Trust’s”) forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future results and conditions, and important factors, risks and uncertainties may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the Federal securities laws, Teucrium Trading, LLC (the “Sponsor”) undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or the risks, uncertainties or other factors described in this Report, as a result of new information, future events or changed circumstances or for any other reason after the date of this Report.
Overview/Introduction
Teucrium Commodity Trust (“Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust organized on September 11, 2009, is a series trust consisting of five series: Teucrium Corn Fund (“CORN”), Teucrium Sugar Fund (“CANE”), Teucrium Soybean Fund (“SOYB”), Teucrium Wheat Fund (“WEAT”), and Teucrium Agricultural Fund (“TAGS”). All of the series of the Trust are collectively referred to as the “Funds” and singularly as the “Fund.” Each Fund is a commodity pool that is a series of the Trust. The Funds issue common units, called the “Shares,” representing fractional undivided beneficial interests in a Fund. Effective as of April 26, 2019, the Trust and the Funds operate pursuant to the Trust’s Fifth Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust and Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”).
On June 7, 2010, the initial Form S-1 for CORN was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). On June 8, 2010, four Creation Baskets for CORN were issued representing 200,000 shares and $5,000,000. CORN began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Arca on June 9, 2010. The current registration statement for CORN was declared effective by the SEC on April 7, 2022. This registration statement for CORN registered an indeterminate number of shares.
On June 13, 2011, the initial Forms S-1 for CANE, SOYB, and WEAT were declared effective by the SEC. On September 16, 2011, two Creation Baskets were issued for each Fund, representing 100,000 shares and $2,500,000, for CANE, SOYB, and WEAT. On September 19, 2011, CANE, SOYB, and WEAT started trading on the NYSE Arca. The current registration statements for SOYB and CANE were declared effective by the SEC on April 7, 2022. The registration statements for SOYB and CANE registered an indeterminate number of shares each. The current registration statement for WEAT was declared effective on March 9, 2022. This registration statement for WEAT registered an indeterminate number of shares.
On February 10, 2012, the Form S-1 for TAGS was declared effective by the SEC. On March 27, 2012, six Creation Baskets for TAGS were issued representing 300,000 shares and $15,000,000. TAGS began trading on the NYSE Arca on March 28, 2012. The current registration statement for TAGS was declared effective by the SEC on April 7, 2022. This registration statement for TAGS registered an indeterminate number of shares.
The investment objective of each Underlying Fund is to have the daily changes in the NAV of the Fund’s Shares reflect the daily changes in a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for certain futures contracts for the commodity specified in the Underlying Fund’s name. (This weighted average is referred to herein as the Underlying Fund’s “Benchmark,” the Futures Contracts that at any given time make up an Underlying Fund’s Benchmark are referred to herein as the Underlying Fund’s “Benchmark Component Futures Contracts,” and the commodity specified in the Underlying Fund’s name is referred to herein as its “Specified Commodity.”) In the case of TAGS, the Fund seeks to provide daily investment results that reflect the combined daily performance of the Underlying Funds. Each Fund pursues its investment objective by investing in a portfolio of exchange traded futures contracts (each, a “Futures Contract”) that expire in a specific month and trade on a specific exchange in the designated commodity comprising the Benchmark as defined below or shares of the Underlying Funds in the case of TAGS. Under normal market conditions, the Underlying Funds invest in futures contracts and cash and cash equivalents, and TAGS seeks to achieve its investment objective generally by investing equally in shares of each Underlying Fund.
War and other geopolitical events in eastern Europe, including but not limited to Russia and Ukraine, may cause volatility in commodity prices including energy and grain prices, due to the region’s importance to these markets, potential impacts to global transportation and shipping, and other supply chain disruptions. These events are unpredictable and may lead to extended periods of price volatility.
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The occurrence of a severe weather event, natural disaster, terrorist attack, geopolitical events, outbreak or public health emergency as declared by the World Health Organization, the continuation or expansion of war or other hostilities, or a prolonged government shutdown may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments and alter current assumptions and expectations. For example, in late February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia and other countries in the region and in the west. The responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, the larger overarching tensions, and Ukraine’s military response and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility generally, have severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, and cause volatility in the price of agricultural commodities, agricultural futures and the share price of the Fund and the Underlying Funds.
A climate of uncertainty and panic, including the contagion of the COVID-19 virus and other infectious viruses or diseases, may adversely affect global, regional, and local economies and reduce the availability of potential investment opportunities, and increases the difficulty of performing due diligence and modeling market conditions, potentially reducing the accuracy of financial projections. Under these circumstances, the Funds may have difficulty achieving their investment objectives which may adversely impact performance. Further, such events can be highly disruptive to economies and markets, significantly disrupt the operations of individual companies (including, but not limited to, the Funds’ Sponsor and third party service providers), sectors, industries, markets, securities and commodity exchanges, currencies, interest and inflation rates, credit ratings, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Funds’ investments. These factors could cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures that could impact the ability of the Funds to complete redemptions and otherwise affect Fund performance and Fund trading in the secondary market. A widespread crisis may also affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the current time. How long such events will last and whether they will continue or recur cannot be predicted. Impacts from these events could have significant impact on a Fund’s performance, resulting in losses to your investment. The global economic shocks being experienced as of the date hereof may cause the underlying assumptions and expectations of the Funds to become outdated quickly or inaccurate, resulting in significant losses.
The Investment Objective of the Funds
The investment objective of CORN is to have the daily changes in the NAV of the Fund’s Shares reflect the daily changes in the corn market for future delivery as measured by the Benchmark. The Benchmark is a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for corn (“Corn Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”):
CORN Benchmark
CBOT Corn Futures Contract
Weighting
Second to expire
35 %
Third to expire
30 %
December following the third to expire
35 %
The investment objective of SOYB is to have the daily changes in the NAV of the Fund’s Shares reflect the daily changes in the soybean market for future delivery as measured by the Benchmark. The Benchmark is a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for soybeans (“Soybean Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”):
SOYB Benchmark
CBOT Soybean Futures Contract
Weighting
Second to expire (excluding August & September)
35 %
Third to expire (excluding August & September)
30 %
Expiring in the November following the expiration of the third to expire contract
35 %
The investment objective of CANE is to have the daily changes in the NAV of the Fund’s Shares reflect the daily changes in the sugar market for future delivery as measured by the Benchmark. The Benchmark is a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for No. 11 sugar (“Sugar Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the ICE Futures US (“ICE”):
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CANE Benchmark
ICE Sugar Futures Contract
Weighting
Second to expire
35 %
Third to expire
30 %
Expiring in the March following the expiration of the third to expire contract
35 %
The investment objective of WEAT is to have the daily changes in the NAV of the Fund’s Shares reflect the daily changes in the wheat market for future delivery as measured by the Benchmark. The Benchmark is a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for wheat (“Wheat Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”):
WEAT Benchmark
CBOT Wheat Futures Contract
Weighting
Second to expire
35
%
Third to expire
30
%
December following the third to expire
35
%
The investment objective of TAGS is to provide daily investment results that reflect the combined daily performance of four other commodity pools, specifically CORN, SOYB, CANE and WEAT (the “Underlying Funds”). Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective generally by investing equally in shares of each Underlying Fund and, to a lesser extent, cash equivalents. The Fund’s investments in shares of Underlying Funds are rebalanced, generally on a daily basis, in order to maintain approximately a 25% allocation of the Fund’s assets to each Underlying Fund:
TAGS Benchmark
Underlying Fund
Weighting
CORN
25 %
SOYB
25 %
CANE
25 %
WEAT
25 %
The notional amount of each Benchmark Component Futures Contract included in each Benchmark is intended to reflect the changes in market value of each such Benchmark Component Futures Contract within the Benchmark. The closing level of each Benchmark is calculated on each business day by U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Global Fund Services”) based on the closing price of the futures contracts for each of the underlying Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and the notional amounts of such Benchmark Component Futures Contracts.
Each Benchmark is rebalanced periodically to ensure that each of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts is weighted in the same proportion as in the investment objective for each Fund. The following tables reflect the March 31, 2022, Benchmark Component Futures Contracts weights for each of the Funds, the contract held is identified by the generally accepted nomenclature of contract month and year, which may differ from the month in which the contract expires:
CORN Benchmark Component Futures Contracts
Notional Value
Weight (%)
CBOT Corn Futures (2,098 contracts, JUL22)
$ 76,891,700
35 %
CBOT Corn Futures (1,920 contracts, SEP22)
66,840,000
30
CBOT Corn Futures (2,293 contracts, DEC22)
78,391,938
35
Total at March 31, 2022
$ 222,123,638
100 %
SOYB Benchmark Component Futures Contracts
Notional Value
Weight (%)
CBOT Soybean Futures (281 contracts, JUL22)
$ 22,451,900
35 %
CBOT Soybean Futures (270 contracts, NOV22)
19,176,750
30
CBOT Soybean Futures (345 contracts, NOV23)
22,619,063
35
Total at March 31, 2022
$ 64,247,713
100 %
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CANE Benchmark Component Futures Contracts
Notional Value
Weight (%)
ICE Sugar Futures (413 contracts, JUL22)
$ 8,936,659
35 %
ICE Sugar Futures (353 contracts, OCT22)
7,646,262
30
ICE Sugar Futures (409 contracts, MAR23)
8,914,237
35
Total at March 31, 2022
$ 25,497,158
100 %
WEAT Benchmark Component Futures Contracts
Notional Value
Weight (%)
CBOT Wheat Futures (3,442 contracts, JUL22)
$ 172,444,200
35 %
CBOT Wheat Futures (2,991 contracts, SEP22)
147,904,950
30
CBOT Wheat Futures (3,543 contracts, DEC22)
172,322,663
35
Total at March 31, 2022
$ 492,671,813
100 %
TAGS Benchmark Component Futures Contracts
Fair Value
Weight (%)
Shares of Teucrium Corn Fund (278,273 shares)
$ 7,561,011
26 %
Shares of Teucrium Soybean Fund (266,763 shares)
7,138,765
24
Shares of Teucrium Wheat Fund (731,745 shares)
7,191,736
25
Shares of Teucrium Sugar Fund (760,450 shares)
7,315,073
25
Total at March 31, 2022
$ 29,206,585
100 %
The price relationship between the near month Futures Contract to expire and the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts will vary and may impact both the total return of each Fund over time and the degree to which such total return tracks the total return of the price indices related to the commodity of each Fund. In cases in which the near month contract’s price is lower than later expiring contracts’ prices (a situation known as “contango” in the futures markets), then absent the impact of the overall movement in commodity prices the value of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts would tend to decline as they approach expiration. In cases in which the near month contract’s price is higher than later expiring contracts’ prices (a situation known as “backwardation” in the futures markets), then absent the impact of the overall movement in a Fund’s prices the value of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts would tend to rise as they approach expiration, all other things being equal.
The total portfolio composition for each Fund is disclosed each business day that the NYSE Arca is open for trading on the Sponsor’s website. The website for the Funds and the Sponsor is www.teucrium.com. The website is accessible at no charge. The website disclosure of portfolio holdings is made daily and includes, as applicable, the name and value of each Futures Contract, other commodity interests and the amount of cash and cash equivalents held in the Fund’s portfolio. The specific types of other commodity interests held (if any, which may include options on futures contracts and derivative contracts such as swaps) collectively, “Other Commodity Interests,” and together with Futures Contracts, “Commodity Interests” or “Interests” in addition to futures contracts, options on futures contracts and derivative contracts that are tied to various commodities are entered into outside of public exchanges. These “over the counter” contracts are entered into between two parties in private contracts, or on a recently formed swap execution facility (“SEF”) for standardized swaps. For example, unlike Futures Contracts, which are guaranteed by a clearing organization, each party to an over the counter derivative contract bears the credit risk of the other party (unless such over the counter swap is cleared through a derivatives clearing organization (“DCO”), i.e., the risk that the other party will not be able to perform its obligations under its contract, and characteristics of such Other Commodity Interests.
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Consistent with achieving a Fund’s investment objective of closely tracking the Benchmark, the Sponsor may for certain reasons cause a Fund to enter into or hold Futures Contracts other than the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts and/or Other Commodity Interests. Other Commodity Interests that do not have standardized terms and are not exchange traded, referred to as “over the counter” Commodity Interests, can generally be structured as the parties to the Commodity Interest contract desire. Therefore, each Fund might enter into multiple and/or over the counter Interests intended to replicate the performance of each of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts for a Fund, or a single over the counter Interest designed to replicate the performance of the Benchmark as a whole. Assuming that there is no default by a counterparty to an over the counter Interest, the performance of the Interest will necessarily correlate with the performance of the Benchmark or the applicable Benchmark Component Futures Contract. Each Fund might also enter into or hold Interests other than Benchmark Component Futures Contracts to facilitate effective trading, consistent with the discussion of the Fund’s “roll” strategy. In addition, each Fund might enter into or hold Interests that would be expected to alleviate overall deviation between the Fund’s performance and that of the Benchmark that may result from certain market and trading inefficiencies or other reasons. By utilizing certain or all of the investments described above, the Sponsor will endeavor to cause the Fund’s performance to closely track that of the Benchmark of each Fund.
An “exchange for related position” (“EFRP”) can be used by each Fund as a technique to facilitate the exchanging of a futures hedge position against a creation or redemption order, and thus each Fund may use an EFRP transaction in connection with the creation and redemption of shares. The market specialist/market maker that is the ultimate purchaser or seller of shares in connection with the creation or redemption basket, respectively, agrees to sell or purchase a corresponding offsetting futures position which is then settled on the same business day as a cleared futures transaction by the FCMs. The Fund will become subject to the credit risk of the market specialist/market maker until the EFRP is settled within the business day, which is typically 7 hours or less. Each Fund reports all activity related to EFRP transactions under the procedures and guidelines of the CFTC and the exchanges on which the futures are traded.
The Funds seek to earn interest and other income (“interest income”) from cash equivalents that it purchases and, on the cash it holds through the Custodian or other financial institutions. The Sponsor anticipates that the interest income will increase the NAV of each Fund. The Funds apply the interest income to the acquisition of additional investments or use it to pay its expenses. If the Fund reinvests the earned interest income, it makes investments that are consistent with its investment objectives as disclosed. Any cash equivalent invested by a Fund will have original maturity dates of three months or less at inception. Any cash equivalent invested by a Fund will be deemed by the Sponsor to be of investment grade quality. As of March 31, 2022, available cash balances in each of the Funds were invested in the First American Government Obligations Fund – Class X, Goldman Sachs Financial Square Government Fund, in demand deposits at Capital One, and in commercial paper with maturities of ninety days or less. Additionally, the CORN, SOYB, CANE and WEAT Funds may invest a portion of the amount of funds required to be deposited with the FCM as initial margin in U.S. Treasury obligations with time to maturity of 90 days or less. The obligations are purchased and held in the respective Fund accounts through the FCM.
In managing the assets of the Funds, the Sponsor does not use a technical trading system that automatically issues buy and sell orders. Instead, the Sponsor will purchase or sell the specific underlying Commodity Interests with an aggregate market value that approximates the amount of cash received or paid upon the purchase or redemption of Shares.
The Sponsor anticipates managing each Fund in a way that tracks the stated benchmark. The Funds’ benchmarks do not hold spot futures and therefore do not anticipate letting the commodity Futures Contracts of any Fund expire, thus avoiding delivery of the underlying commodity. Instead, the Sponsor will close out existing positions, for instance, in response to ordinary scheduled changes in the Benchmark or, if at the Sponsor’s sole discretion, it otherwise determines it would be appropriate to do so, will reinvest the proceeds in new Commodity Interests. Positions may also be closed out to meet redemption orders, in which case the proceeds from closing the positions are not reinvested.
The Sponsor employs a “neutral” investment strategy intended to track the changes in the Benchmark of each Fund regardless of whether the Benchmark goes up or goes down. The Fund’s “neutral” investment strategy is designed to permit investors generally to purchase and sell the Fund’s Shares for the purpose of investing indirectly in the commodity specific market in a cost-effective manner. Such investors may include participants in the specific industry and other industries seeking to hedge the risk of losses in their commodity specific related transactions, as well as investors seeking exposure to that commodity market. Accordingly, depending on the investment objective of an individual investor, the risks generally associated with investing in the commodity specific market and/or the risks involved in hedging may exist. In addition, an investment in a Fund involves the risk that the changes in the price of the Fund’s Shares will not accurately track the changes in the Benchmark, and that changes in the Benchmark will not closely correlate with changes in the price of the commodity on the spot market. The Sponsor does not intend to operate each Fund in a fashion such that its per share NAV equals, in dollar terms, the spot price of the commodity or the price of any particular commodity specific Futures Contract.
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The Sponsor
Teucrium Trading, LLC is the sponsor of the Trust and each of the series of the Trust. The Sponsor is a Delaware limited liability company, formed on July 28, 2009. The principal office is located at Three Main Street, Suite 215, Burlington, Vermont 05401. The Sponsor is registered as a commodity pool operator (“CPO”) and a commodity trading adviser (“CTA”) with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and is a member of the National Futures Association (“NFA”).
The Trust and the Funds operate pursuant to the Trust Agreement. Under the Trust Agreement, the Sponsor is solely responsible for management and conducts or directs the conduct of the business of the Trust, the Fund, and any series of the Trust that may from time to time be established and designated by the Sponsor. The Sponsor is required to oversee the purchase and sale of Shares by Authorized Purchasers and to manage the Fund’s investments, including to evaluate the credit risk of FCMs and swap counterparties and to review daily positions and margin/collateral requirements. The Sponsor has the power to enter into agreements as may be necessary or appropriate for the offer and sale of the Fund’s Shares and the oversight of the Trust’s activities. Accordingly, the Sponsor is responsible for selecting the Trustee, Administrator, Distributor, the independent registered public accounting firm of the Trust, and any legal counsel employed by the Trust. The Sponsor is also responsible for preparing and filing periodic reports on behalf of the Trust with the SEC and will provide any required certification for such reports. No person other than the Sponsor and its principals was involved in the organization of the Trust or the Fund.
Teucrium Trading, LLC designs the Funds to offer liquidity, transparency, and capacity in single-commodity investing for a variety of investors, including institutions and individuals, in an exchange-traded product format. The Funds have also been designed to mitigate the impacts of contango and backwardation, situations that can occur in the course of commodity trading which can affect the potential returns to investors. Backwardation is defined as a market condition in which a futures price of a commodity is lower in the distant delivery months than in the near delivery months, while contango, the opposite of backwardation, is defined as a condition in which distant delivery prices for futures exceed spot prices, often due to the costs of storing and insuring the underlying commodity.
The Sponsor has a patent on certain business methods and procedures used with respect to the Funds.
Performance Summary
This report covers the periods from January 1 to March 31, 2022 for each Fund. Total expenses are presented both gross and net of any expenses waived or paid by the Sponsor that would have been incurred by the Funds (“expenses waived by the Sponsor”).
CORN Per Share Operation Performance
Net asset value at beginning of period
$ 21.58
Income from investment operations:
Investment income
0.01
Net realized and unrealized gain on commodity futures contracts
5.70
Total expenses
(0.12 )
Net increase in net asset value
5.59
Net asset value end of period
$ 27.17
Total Return
25.91 %
Ratios to Average Net Assets (Annualized)
Total expenses
2.37 %
Total expenses, net
2.05 %
Net investment loss
(1.82 )%
SOYB Per Share Operation Performance
Net asset value at beginning of period
$ 22.77
Income from investment operations:
Investment income
0.01
Net realized and unrealized gain on commodity futures contracts
4.12
Total expenses
(0.14 )
Net increase in net asset value
3.99
Net asset value at end of period
$ 26.76
Total Return
17.52 %
Ratios to Average Net Assets (Annualized)
Total expenses
2.58 %
Total expenses, net
2.20 %
Net investment loss
(1.99 )%
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CANE Per Share Operation Performance
Net asset value at beginning of period
$ 9.23
Income from investment operations:
Investment income
0.00
Net realized and unrealized gain on commodity futures contracts
0.44
Total expenses
(0.05 )
Net increase in net asset value
0.39
Net asset value at end of period
$ 9.62
Total Return
4.26 %
Ratios to Average Net Assets (Annualized)
Total expenses
2.75 %
Total expenses, net
2.22 %
Net investment loss
(2.02 )%
WEAT Per Share Operation Performance
Net asset value at beginning of period
$ 7.38
Income from investment operations:
Investment income
0.00
Net realized and unrealized gain on commodity futures contracts
2.49
Total expenses
(0.04 )
Net increase in net asset value
2.45
Net asset value at end of period
$ 9.83
Total Return
33.21 %
Ratios to Average Net Assets (Annualized)
Total expenses
1.96 %
Total expenses, net
1.77 %
Net investment loss
(1.55 )%
TAGS Per Share Operation Performance
Net asset value at beginning of period
$ 27.01
Income from investment operations:
Net realized and unrealized gain on investment transactions
5.45
Total expenses
(0.01 )
Net increase in net asset value
5.44
Net asset value at end of period
$ 32.45
Total Return
20.16 %
Ratios to Average Net Assets (Annualized)
Total expenses
1.45 %
Total expenses, net
0.18 %
Net investment loss
(0.18 )%
Past performance of a Fund is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
Results of Operations
The following includes a section for each Fund of the Trust.
The discussion below addresses the material changes in the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The following includes a section for each Fund of the Trust for the periods in which each Fund was in operation. CORN, SOYB, WEAT, CANE and TAGS each operated for the entirety of all periods.
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Total expenses for the current and comparative periods are presented both gross and net of any expenses waived or paid by the Sponsor that would have been incurred by the Funds (“expenses waived by the Sponsor”). For all expenses waived in 2021 and 2022, the Sponsor has determined that no reimbursement will be sought in future periods. “Total expenses, net” is after the impact of any expenses waived by the Sponsor, are presented in the same manner as previously reported. There is, therefore, no impact to or change in the Net gain or Net loss in any period for the Trust and each Fund as a result of this change in presentation.
The Sponsor is responsible for investing the assets of the Fund in accordance with the objectives and policies of the Fund. In addition, the Sponsor arranges for one or more third parties to provide administrative, custodial, accounting, transfer agency, compliance and other necessary services to the Fund, including services directly attributable to the Fund such as accounting, financial reporting, regulatory compliance and trading activities. In some cases, at its discretion, the Sponsor may elect not to outsource certain of these expenses. In addition, the Funds, except for TAGS which has no such fee, are contractually obligated to pay a monthly management fee to the Sponsor, based on average daily net assets, at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum.
The Funds generally pay for all brokerage fees, taxes and other expenses, including licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, registration or other fees paid to the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), or any other regulatory agency in connection with the offer and sale of subsequent Shares after its initial registration and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated therewith. Each Fund also pays its portion of the fees and expenses associated with the Trust’s tax accounting and reporting requirements. Certain aggregate expenses common to all Funds within the Trust are allocated by the Sponsor to the respective funds based on activity drivers deemed most appropriate by the Sponsor for such expenses, including but not limited to relative assets under management and creation order activity. These aggregate common expenses include, but are not limited to, legal, auditing, accounting and financial reporting, tax-preparation, regulatory compliance, trading activities, and insurance costs, as well as fees paid to the Distributor, which are included in the related line item in the statements of operations. A portion of these aggregate common expenses are related to services provided by the Sponsor or related parties of principals of the Sponsor; these are necessary services to the Funds, which are primarily the cost of performing accounting and financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and trading activities that are directly attributable to the Funds and are, primarily, included as distribution and marketing fees on the statements of operations. These amounts, for the Trust and for each Fund, are detailed in the notes to the financial statements included in Part I of this filing.
The Sponsor has the ability to elect to pay certain expenses on behalf of the Funds or waive the management fee. This election is subject to change by the Sponsor, at its discretion. Expenses paid by the Sponsor and management fees waived by the Sponsor are, if applicable, presented as waived expenses in the statements of operations for each Fund.
Teucrium Corn Fund
The Teucrium Corn Fund commenced investment operations on June 9, 2010. The investment objective of the Corn Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of the Shares’ NAV reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for corn (“Corn Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), specifically (1) the second to expire CBOT Corn Futures Contract, weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire CBOT Corn Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the CBOT Corn Futures Contract expiring in the December following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%. The Fund does not track the spot price of corn.
On March 31, 2022, the Corn Fund held a total of CBOT Corn Futures contracts with a notional value of $222,123,638. The contracts had an asset fair value of $25,830,881. The weighting of the notional value of the contracts is as follows: (1) 35% to the JUL22 contracts, the second to expire CBOT Corn Futures Contract, (2) 30% to SEP22 CBOT contracts, the third to expire CBOT Corn Futures Contract, and (3) 35% to DEC22 CBOT contracts, the CBOT Corn Futures Contract expiring in the December following the expiration month of the third to expire contract.
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Total Net Assets
$ 222,124,501
$ 168,150,971
$ 120,846,256
Shares Outstanding
8,175,004
9,550,004
5,600,004
Net Asset Value per share
$ 27.17
$ 17.61
$ 21.58
Closing Price
$ 27.16
$ 17.53
$ 21.54
Total net assets for the Fund increased year over year by 32%, driven by a combination of a decrease in total shares outstanding of 1,375,000 shares or 14% and an increase in the NAV per share of $9.56 or 54%. The net assets for the Fund increased by 84% when comparing March 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021. The change in total net assets year over year, in the opinion of management, was generally due to investors liquidating shares purchased at depressed values in mid-2020 which appreciated in value due to record large corn purchases by China as well as increased investments in commodities as an inflation hedge.
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For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Three months ended
Three months ended
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
Average daily total net assets
$ 153,414,042
$ 158,420,057
Net realized and unrealized gain on futures contracts
$ 36,463,311
$ 20,118,208
Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents
$ 86,625
$ 77,560
Annualized interest yield based on average daily total net assets
0.06 %
0.05 %
Net Income
$ 35,775,955
$ 19,311,842
Weighted average share outstanding
6,366,671
9,441,115
Management Fees
$ 378,281
$ 390,625
Total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees
$ 520,077
$ 613,567
Brokerage Commissions
$ 31,239
$ 33,966
Expenses waived by the Sponsor
$ 124,377
$ 120,266
Total gross expense ratio
2.37 %
2.57 %
Total expense ratio net of expenses waived by the Sponsor
2.05 %
2.26 %
Net investment loss
1.82 %
2.06 %
Creation of Shares
2,950,000
2,150,000
Redemption of Shares
375,000
1,500,000
Realized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of: 1) the change in the price of the particular contracts sold as part of a “roll” in contracts as the nearest to expire contracts are exchanged for the appropriate contract given the investment objective of the fund, 2) the change in the price of particular contracts sold in relation to redemption of shares, 3) the gain or loss associated with rebalancing trades which are made to ensure conformance to the benchmark, 4) the number of contracts held and then sold for either circumstance aforementioned. Beginning on August 21, 2019, the Sponsor began recognizing the expense for brokerage commissions for futures contract trades on a per trade basis. Prior to the change, brokerage commissions on all open commodity futures contracts were accrued on the trade date on a full-turn basis. Unrealized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of the change in the price of contracts held on the final date of the period versus the purchase price for each contract and the number of contracts held in each contract month. The Sponsor has a static benchmark as described above and trades futures contracts to adhere to that benchmark and to adjust for the creation or redemption of shares.
The increase in interest and other income year over year was due to an increase in inflation from the second half of 2021 and strong economic activity and employment levels. As a result, the amount of interest income earned as a percentage of average daily total net assets was higher in the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Fund seeks to earn interest and other income in investment grade, short-duration instruments or deposits associated with the pool’s cash management strategy that may be used to offset expenses. These investments may include, but are not limited to, short-term Treasury Securities, demand deposits, money market funds and investments in commercial paper. These interest rate levels may be lower or higher than the projected interest rates stated in the prospectuses and thus will impact your breakeven point.
The decrease in management fee paid to the Sponsor for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was a result of lower average net assets. The management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1% of the Fund’s daily average net assets. Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
The decrease in total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was generally due to the decrease in average net assets in the period. The Sponsor has the ability to elect to pay certain expenses on behalf of the Fund or waive the management fee. This election is subject to change by the Sponsor, at its discretion. The Sponsor has determined that no reimbursement will be sought in future periods for those expenses which have been waived for the period.
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The decrease in total brokerage commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to a decrease in contracts purchased, liquidated, and rolled.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Fund issued 2,950,000 shares as part of creation baskets and purchased 375,000 shares as part of redemption baskets. Shares outstanding decreased by 1,375,000 shares or 14% for three months ended March 31, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021. In total, the Fund issued 2,150,000 shares and purchased 1,500,000 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The graph below shows the actual shares outstanding, total net assets (or AUM) and net asset value per share (NAV per share) for the Fund from inception to March 31, 2022 and serves to illustrate the relative changes of these components.
Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
The seasonality patterns for corn futures prices are impacted by a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to, the harvest in the fall, the planting conditions in the spring, and the weather throughout the critical germination and growing periods. Prices for corn futures are affected by the availability and demand for substitute agricultural commodities, including soybeans and wheat, and the demand for corn as an additive for fuel, through the production of ethanol. The price of corn futures contracts is also influenced by global economic conditions, including the demand for exports to other countries. Such factors will impact the performance of the Fund and the results of operations on an ongoing basis. The Sponsor cannot predict the impact of such factors.
Teucrium Soybean Fund
The Teucrium Soybean Fund commenced investment operations on September 19, 2011. The investment objective of the Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of the Shares’ Net Asset Value (“NAV”) reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for soybeans (“Soybean Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”). The three Soybean Futures Contracts, excluding August and September, will be: (1) second to expire CBOT Soybean Futures Contract, weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire CBOT Soybean Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the CBOT Soybean Futures Contract expiring in the November following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%.
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On March 31, 2022, the Fund held a total of CBOT soybean futures contracts with a notional value of $64,247,713. The contracts had an asset fair value of $3,599,568. The weighting of the notional value of the contracts is as follows: (1) 35% to JUL22 CBOT contracts, (2) 30% to NOV22 CBOT contracts, and (3) 35% to NOV23 CBOT contracts.
Year Ending
Year Ending
Year Ending
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Total Net Assets
$ 64,225,822
$ 91,194,256
$ 44,972,625
Shares Outstanding
2,400,004
4,225,004
1,975,004
Net Asset Value per share
$ 26.76
$ 21.58
$ 22.77
Closing Price
$ 26.71
$ 21.62
$ 22.75
Total net assets for the Fund decreased year over year by 30%, driven by a combination of a decrease in total shares outstanding of 1,825,000 shares or 43% and partially offset by an increase in the NAV per share of $5.18 or 24%. The net assets for the Fund increased by 43% when comparing March 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021. This change year over year, in the opinion of management, was due to investors liquidating shares purchased at depressed values in mid-2020, which appreciated in value due to record large soybean purchased by China as well as increased investments in commodities as an inflation hedge.
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Three months Ended
Three months Ended
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
Average daily total net assets
$ 55,039,910
$ 98,188,591
Net realized and unrealized gain on futures contracts
$ 7,967,418
$ 9,429,946
Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents
$ 27,836
$ 47,436
Annualized interest yield based on average daily total net assets
0.05 %
0.05 %
Net Income
$ 7,696,885
$ 8,900,216
Weighted average share outstanding
2,128,060
4,755,560
Management Fees
$ 135,715
$ 242,109
Total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees
$ 214,070
$ 397,634
Brokerage Commissions
$ 6,521
$ 3,477
Expenses waived by the Sponsor
$ 51,416
$ 62,577
Total gross expense ratio
2.58 %
2.64 %
Total expense ratio net of expenses waived by the Sponsor
2.20 %
2.38 %
Net investment loss
1.99 %
2.18 %
Creation of Shares
525,000
900,000
Redemption of Shares
100,000
125,000
Realized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of: 1) the change in the price of the particular contracts sold as part of a “roll” in contracts as the nearest to expire contracts are exchanged for the appropriate contract given the investment objective of the fund, 2) the change in the price of particular contracts sold in relation to redemption of shares, 3) the gain or loss associated with rebalancing trades which are made to ensure conformance to the benchmark, 4) the number of contracts held and then sold for either circumstance aforementioned. Beginning on August 21, 2019, the Sponsor began recognizing the expense for brokerage commissions for futures contract trades on a per trade basis. Prior to the change, brokerage commissions on all open commodity futures contracts were accrued on the trade date on a full-turn basis. Unrealized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of the change in the price of contracts held on the final date of the period versus the purchase price for each contract and the number of contracts held in each contract month. The Sponsor has a static benchmark as described above and trades futures contracts to adhere to that benchmark and to adjust for the creation or redemption of shares.
The decrease in interest and other income year over year was due to lower net assets for the year, and was partially offset due to an increase in inflation from the second half of 2021 and strong economic activity and employment levels. As a result, the amount of interest income earned as a percentage of average daily total net assets was higher in the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Fund seeks to earn interest and other income in investment grade, short-duration instruments or deposits associated with the pool’s cash management strategy that may be used to offset expenses. These investments may include, but are not limited to, short-term Treasury Securities, demand deposits, money market funds and investments in commercial paper. These interest rate levels may be lower or higher than the projected interest rates stated in the prospectuses and thus will impact your breakeven point.
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The decrease in management fee paid to the Sponsor for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was a result of lower average net assets. The management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1% of the Fund’s daily average net assets. Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
The decrease in total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was generally due to the decrease in average net assets in the period. The Sponsor has the ability to elect to pay certain expenses on behalf of the Fund or waive the management fee. This election is subject to change by the Sponsor, at its discretion. The Sponsor has determined that no reimbursement will be sought in future periods for those expenses which have been waived for the period.
The increase in total brokerage commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to an increase in contracts purchased, liquidated, and rolled.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Fund issued 525,000 shares as part of creation baskets and purchased 100,000 shares as part of redemption baskets. Shares outstanding decreased by 1,825,000 shares or 43% for three months ended March 31, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021. In total, the Fund issued 900,000 shares and purchased 125,000 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The graph below shows the actual shares outstanding, total net assets (or AUM) and net asset value per share (NAV per share) for the Fund from inception to March 31, 2022 and serves to illustrate the relative changes of these components.
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Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
The seasonality patterns for soybean futures prices are impacted by a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to, the harvest in the fall, the planting conditions in the spring, and the weather throughout the critical germination and growing periods. Prices for soybean futures are affected by the availability and demand for substitute agricultural commodities, including corn and wheat. The price of soybean futures contracts is also influenced by global economic conditions, including the demand for exports to other countries. Such factors will impact the performance of the Fund and the results of operations on an ongoing basis. The Sponsor cannot predict the impact of such factors.
Teucrium Sugar Fund
The Teucrium Sugar Fund commenced investment operations on September 19, 2011. The investment objective of the Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of the Shares’ Net Asset Value (“NAV”) reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for sugar (“Sugar Futures Contracts”) that are traded on ICE Futures US (“ICE Futures”), specifically: (1) the second to expire Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract (a “Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract”), weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract expiring in the March following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%.
On March 31, 2022, the Fund held a total of ICE sugar futures contracts with a notional value of $25,497,158. The contracts had an asset fair value of $1,906,462. The weighting of the notional value of the contracts is as follows: (1) 35% to the JUL22 ICE No 11 contracts, (2) 30% to the OCT22 ICE No 11 contracts, and (3) 35% to the MAR23 ICE No 11 contracts.
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
Year Ending
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Total Net Assets
$ 25,491,461
$ 15,285,943
$ 22,834,664
Shares Outstanding
2,650,004
2,175,004
2,475,004
Net Asset Value per share
$ 9.62
$ 7.03
$ 9.23
Closing Price
$ 9.65
$ 7.03
$ 9.20
Total net assets for the Fund increased year over year by 67%, driven by a combination of an increase in total shares outstanding of 475,000 or 22% and an increase in the NAV per share of $2.59 or 37%. The net assets for the Fund increased by 12% when comparing March 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021. This change was, in the opinion of management, due to the low price of sugar and record world demand relative to recent years, which accelerated investor interest.
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Three months Ended
Three months Ended
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
Average daily total net assets
$ 22,145,831
$ 14,606,275
Net realized and unrealized gain on futures contracts
$ 977,903
$ 646,638
Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents
$ 10,698
$ 6,388
Annualized interest yield based on average daily total net assets
0.05 %
0.04 %
Net Income
$ 867,427
$ 566,815
Weighted average share outstanding
2,421,393
2,034,171
Management Fees
$ 54,606
$ 36,015
Total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees
$ 95,434
$ 76,686
Brokerage Commissions
$ 6,196
$ 3,477
Expenses waived by the Sponsor
$ 28,866
$ 26,490
Total gross expense ratio
2.75 %
3.13 %
Total expense ratio net of expenses waived by the Sponsor
2.22 %
2.39 %
Net investment loss
2.02 %
2.21 %
Creation of Shares
700,000
275,000
Redemption of Shares
525,000
-
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Realized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of: 1) the change in the price of the particular contracts sold as part of a “roll” in contracts as the nearest to expire contracts are exchanged for the appropriate contract given the investment objective of the fund, 2) the change in the price of particular contracts sold in relation to redemption of shares, 3) the gain or loss associated with rebalancing trades which are made to ensure conformance to the benchmark, 4) the number of contracts held and then sold for either circumstance aforementioned. Beginning on August 21, 2019, the Sponsor began recognizing the expense for brokerage commissions for futures contract trades on a per trade basis. Prior to the change, brokerage commissions on all open commodity futures contracts were accrued on the trade date on a full-turn basis. Unrealized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of the change in the price of contracts held on the final date of the period versus the purchase price for each contract and the number of contracts held in each contract month. The Sponsor has a static benchmark as described above and trades futures contracts to adhere to that benchmark and to adjust for the creation or redemption of shares.
The increase in interest and other income year over year was due to an increase in inflation from the second half of 2021 and strong economic activity and employment levels. As a result, the amount of interest income earned as a percentage of average daily total net assets was higher in the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Fund seeks to earn interest and other income in investment grade, short-duration instruments or deposits associated with the pool’s cash management strategy that may be used to offset expenses. These investments may include, but are not limited to, short-term Treasury Securities, demand deposits, money market funds and investments in commercial paper. These interest rate levels may be lower or higher than the projected interest rates stated in the prospectuses and thus will impact your breakeven point.
The increase in management fee paid to the Sponsor for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was a result of higher average net assets. The management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1% of the Fund’s daily average net assets. Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
The increase in total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was generally due to the increase in average net assets in the period. The Sponsor has the ability to elect to pay certain expenses on behalf of the Fund or waive the management fee. This election is subject to change by the Sponsor, at its discretion. The Sponsor has determined that no reimbursement will be sought in future periods for those expenses which have been waived for the period.
The increase in total brokerage commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to an increase in contracts purchased, liquidated, and rolled.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Fund issued 700,000 shares as part of creation baskets and purchased 525,000 shares as part of redemption baskets. Shares outstanding increased by 475,000 shares or 22% for three months ended March 31, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021. In total, the Fund issued 275,000 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
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The graph below shows the actual shares outstanding, total net assets (or AUM) and net asset value per share (NAV per share) for the Fund from inception to March 31, 2022 and serves to illustrate the relative changes of these components.
The seasonality patterns for sugar cane futures prices are impacted by a variety of factors. In the futures market, contracts expiring during the harvest season are typically priced lower than contracts expiring in the winter and spring. While the sugar harvest seasons varies from country to country, prices of Sugar Futures Contracts tend to be lowest in the late spring and early summer, reflecting the harvest season in Brazil, the world’s leading producer of sugarcane. Thus, seasonal fluctuations could result in an investor incurring losses upon the sale of Fund Shares, particularly if the investor needs to sell Shares when the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts are, in whole or part, Sugar Futures Contracts expiring in the late spring or early summer. The price of sugar futures contracts is also influenced by global economic conditions, including the demand for imports and exports to other countries. Such factors will impact the performance of the Fund and the results of operations on an ongoing basis. The Sponsor cannot predict the impact of such factors.
Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
Teucrium Wheat Fund
The Teucrium Wheat Fund commenced investment operations on September 19, 2011. The investment objective of the Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of the Shares’ Net Asset Value reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for three futures contracts for wheat (“Wheat Futures Contracts”) that are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), specifically: (1) the second to expire CBOT Wheat Futures Contract, weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire CBOT Wheat Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the CBOT Wheat Futures Contract expiring in the December following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%.
On March 31, 2022, the Fund held a total of CBOT wheat futures contracts with a notional value of $492,671,813. The contracts had a liability fair value of $33,791,659. The weighting of the notional value contracts is as follows: (1) 35% to JUL22 CBOT contracts, (2) 30% to SEP22 CBOT contracts, and (3) 35% to DEC22 CBOT contracts.
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Total Net Assets
$ 492,639,237
$ 80,722,372
$ 75,621,587
Shares Outstanding
50,125,004
13,475,004
10,250,004
Net Asset Value per share
$ 9.83
$ 5.99
$ 7.38
Closing Price
$ 9.86
$ 6.01
$ 7.39
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Total net assets for the Fund increased year over year by 510%, driven by a combination of an increase in total shares outstanding of 36,650,000 or 272% and an increase in the NAV per share of $3.84 or 64%. The net assets for the Fund increased by 551% when comparing March 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021. This change year over year, in the opinion of management, was due to elevated prices, influenced by relatively tight supplies in key exporting countries and the concerns over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Prices have been rising as the conflict is raising significant questions about the ability of Russia and Ukraine to continue exporting.
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Three months ended
Three months ended
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
Average daily total net assets
$ 177,295,819
$ 78,802,918
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on futures contracts
$ 1,155,205
$ (2,136,225 )
Interest income earned on cash and cash equivalents
$ 94,809
$ 35,181
Annualized interest yield based on average daily total net assets
0.05 %
0.04 %
Net Income (Loss)
$ 477,665
$ (2,532,616 )
Weighted average share outstanding
19,052,226
12,683,337
Management Fees
$ 437,168
$ 194,308
Total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees
$ 421,037
$ 265,979
Brokerage Commissions
$ 81,151
$ 11,475
Expenses waived by the Sponsor
$ 85,856
$ 28,715
Total gross expense ratio
1.96 %
2.37 %
Total expense ratio net of expenses waived by the Sponsor
1.77 %
2.22 %
Net investment loss
1.55 %
2.04 %
Creation of Shares
51,025,000
2,800,000
Redemption of Shares
11,150,000
675,000
Realized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of: 1) the change in the price of the particular contracts sold as part of a “roll” in contracts as the nearest to expire contracts are exchanged for the appropriate contract given the investment objective of the fund, 2) the change in the price of particular contracts sold in relation to redemption of shares, 3) the gain or loss associated with rebalancing trades which are made to ensure conformance to the benchmark, 4) the number of contracts held and then sold for either circumstance aforementioned. Beginning on August 21, 2019, the Sponsor began recognizing the expense for brokerage commissions for futures contract trades on a per trade basis. Prior to the change, brokerage commissions on all open commodity futures contracts were accrued on the trade date on a full-turn basis. Unrealized gain or loss on trading of commodity futures contracts is a function of the change in the price of contracts held on the final date of the period versus the purchase price for each contract and the number of contracts held in each contract month. The Sponsor has a static benchmark as described above and trades futures contracts to adhere to that benchmark and to adjust for the creation or redemption of shares.
The increase in interest and other income year over year was due to an increase in inflation from the second half of 2021 and strong economic activity and employment levels. As a result, the amount of interest income earned as a percentage of average daily total net assets was higher in the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021. The Fund seeks to earn interest and other income in investment grade, short-duration instruments or deposits associated with the pool’s cash management strategy that may be used to offset expenses. These investments may include, but are not limited to, short-term Treasury Securities, demand deposits, money market funds and investments in commercial paper. These interest rate levels may be lower or higher than the projected interest rates stated in the prospectuses and thus will impact your breakeven point.
The increase in management fee paid to the Sponsor for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was a result of higher average net assets. The management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1% of the Fund’s daily average net assets. Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
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The increase in total gross fees and other expenses excluding management fees for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was generally due to an increase in expenses paid by the Sponsor. The Sponsor has the ability to elect to pay certain expenses on behalf of the Fund or waive the management fee. This election is subject to change by the Sponsor, at its discretion. The Sponsor has determined that no reimbursement will be sought in future periods for those expenses which have been waived for the period.
The increase in total brokerage commissions for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to an increase in contracts purchased, liquidated, rolled and the increased fees from the FCM which has imposed capital by the new FCM and clearing broker.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Fund issued 51,025,000 shares as part of creation baskets and purchased 11,150,000 shares as part of redemption baskets. Shares outstanding increased by 36,650,000 shares or 272% for three months ended March 31, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021. In total, the Fund issued 2,800,000 shares and purchased 675,000 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
The graph below shows the actual shares outstanding, total net assets (or AUM) and net asset value per share (NAV per share) for the Fund from inception to March 31, 2022 and serves to illustrate the relative changes of these components.
The seasonality patterns for wheat futures prices are impacted by a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to, the harvest in summer and fall, the planting conditions, and the weather throughout the critical germination and growing periods. Prices for wheat futures are affected by the availability and demand for substitute agricultural commodities, including corn and other feed grains. The price of wheat futures contracts is also influenced by global economic conditions, including the demand for exports to other countries. Such factors will impact the performance of the Fund and the results of operations on an ongoing basis. The Sponsor cannot predict the impact of such factors.
Other than the management fee to the Sponsor and the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
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Teucrium Agricultural Fund
The Teucrium Agricultural Fund commenced operation on March 28, 2012. The investment objective of the Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) of its common units (“Shares”) reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average (the “Underlying Fund Average”) of the NAVs per share of four other commodity pools that are series of the Trust and are sponsored by the Sponsor: the Teucrium Corn Fund (“CORN”), the Teucrium Wheat Fund (“WEAT”), the Teucrium Soybean Fund (“SOYB”) and the Teucrium Sugar Fund (“CANE”) (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”). The Underlying Fund Average will have a weighting of 25% to each Underlying Fund, and the Fund’s assets will be rebalanced, generally on a daily basis, to maintain the approximate 25% allocation to each Underlying Fund. The Fund does not intend to invest directly in futures contracts (“Futures Contracts”), although it reserves the right to do so in the future, including if an Underlying Fund ceases operation.
The investment objective of each Underlying Fund is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of its shares’ NAV reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average of the closing settlement prices for certain Futures Contracts for the commodity specified in the Underlying Fund’s name. (This weighted average is referred to herein as the Underlying Fund’s “Benchmark,” the Futures Contracts that at any given time make up an Underlying Fund’s Benchmark are referred to herein as the Underlying Fund’s “Benchmark Component Futures Contracts,” and the commodity specified in the Underlying Fund’s name is referred to herein as its “Specified Commodity.”) Specifically, the Teucrium Corn Fund’s Benchmark is: (1) the second to expire Futures Contract for corn traded on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire CBOT corn Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the CBOT corn Futures Contract expiring in the December following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%. The Teucrium Wheat Fund’s Benchmark is: (1) the second to expire CBOT wheat Futures Contract, weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire CBOT wheat Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the CBOT wheat Futures Contract expiring in the December following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%. The Teucrium Soybean Fund’s Benchmark is: (1) the second to expire CBOT soybean Futures Contract, weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire CBOT soybean Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the CBOT soybean Futures Contract expiring in the November following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%, except that CBOT soybean Futures Contracts expiring in August and September will not be part of the Teucrium Soybean Fund’s Benchmark because of the less liquid market for these Futures Contracts. The Teucrium Sugar Fund’s Benchmark is: (1) the second to expire Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract traded on ICE Futures US (“ICE Futures”), weighted 35%, (2) the third to expire ICE Futures Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract, weighted 30%, and (3) the ICE Futures Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract expiring in the March following the expiration month of the third to expire contract, weighted 35%.
On March 31, 2022, the Fund held: 1) 278,273 shares of CORN with a fair value of $7,561,011; 2) 731,745 shares of WEAT with a fair value of $7,191,736; 3) 266,763 shares of SOYB with a fair value of $7,138,765; and 4) 760,450 shares of CANE with a fair value of $7,315,073. The weighting on March 31, 2022 was 26% to CORN, 25% to WEAT, 24% to SOYB and 25% to CANE.
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
Quarter Ending
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
December 31, 2021
Total Net Assets
$ 29,209,416
$ 5,045,045
$ 14,179,655
Shares Outstanding
900,002
225,002
525,002
Net Asset Value per share
$ 32.45
$ 22.42
$ 27.01
Closing Price
$ 32.52
$ 22.37
$ 26.94
Total net assets for the Fund increased year over year by 479%, driven by a combination of an increase in shares outstanding of 675,000 shares or 300% and an increase in the NAV per share of $10.03 or 45%. The net assets for the Fund increased by 106% when comparing March 31, 2022 to December 31, 2021. Effective August 2, 2012 through April 9, 2018, the Fund was at 50,002 shares outstanding which represents a minimum number of shares and there could be no further redemptions until additional shares were created.
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For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Three months ended
Three months ended
March 31, 2022
March 31, 2021
Average daily total net assets
$ 17,610,505
$ 3,730,705
Net realized and unrealized gain on securities
$ 2,478,008
$ 64,489
Interest income earned on cash equivalents
$ 18
$ 4
Annualized interest yield based on average daily total net assets
0.00 %
0.00 %
Net Income
$ 2,470,210
$ 62,562
Weighted average share outstanding
584,585
166,946
Total gross fees and other expenses
$ 62,819
$ 16,067
Brokerage Commissions
$ -
$ -
Expenses waived by the Sponsor
$ 55,003
$ 14,136
Total gross expense ratio
1.45 %
1.75 %
Total expense ratio net of expenses waived by the Sponsor
0.18 %
0.21 %
Net investment loss
0.18 %
0.21 %
Creation of Shares
587,500
175,000
Redemption of Shares
212,500
25,000
Realized gain or loss on the securities of the Underlying Funds is a function of 1) the change in the price of particular contracts sold in relation to redemption of shares, 2) the gain or loss associated with rebalancing trades which are made to ensure conformance to the benchmark and 3) the full-turn brokerage commission fee recognized on a per trade basis. Unrealized gain or loss on the securities of the Underlying Funds is a function of the change in the price of shares held on the final date of the period versus the purchase price for each and the number held. The Sponsor has a static benchmark as described above and trades futures contracts to adhere to that benchmark and to adjust for the creation or redemption of shares.
Other than the brokerage commissions, most of the expenses incurred by the Fund are associated with the day to day operation of the Fund and the necessary functions related to regulatory compliance. These are generally based on contracts, which extend for some period of time and up to one year, or commitments regardless of the level of assets under management. The structure of the Fund and the nature of the expenses are such that as total net assets grow, there is a scalability of expenses that may allow the total expense ratio to be reduced. However, if total net assets for the Fund fall, the total expense ratio of the Fund will increase unless additional reductions are made by the Sponsor to the daily expense accruals. The Sponsor can elect to adjust the daily expense accruals at its discretion based on market conditions and other Fund considerations.
The increase in total gross fees and other expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 was generally due to the increase in average net assets in the period. The Sponsor has the ability to elect to pay certain expenses on behalf of the Fund or waive the management fee. This election is subject to change by the Sponsor, at its discretion. The Sponsor has determined that no reimbursement will be sought in future periods for those expenses which have been waived for the period.
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The graph below shows the actual shares outstanding, total net assets (or AUM) and net asset value per share (NAV per share) for the Fund from inception to March 31, 2022 and serves to illustrate the relative changes of these components.
Market Outlook
The Corn Market
Corn is currently the most widely produced livestock feed grain in the United States. The two largest demands of the United States’ corn crop are used in livestock feed and ethanol production. Corn is also processed into food and industrial products, including starch, sweeteners, corn oil, beverages and industrial alcohol. The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) publishes weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual updates for U.S. domestic and worldwide corn production and consumption, and for other grains such as soybeans and wheat which can be used in some cases as a substitute for corn. These reports are available on the USDA’s website, www.usda.gov, at no charge. The outlook provided below is from the April 8, 2022 USDA report. However, as discussed immediately below, there have been significant geopolitical developments since the issuance of the February 8th USDA Report that may significantly alter assumptions and expectations and the potential for resulting volatility and losses.
As a general matter, the occurrence of a severe weather event, natural disaster, terrorist attack, geopolitical events, outbreak or public health emergency as declared by the World Health Organization, the continuation or expansion of war or other hostilities, or a prolonged government shutdown may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments and alter current assumptions and expectations. For example, in late February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia and other countries in the region and in the west. The responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, the larger overarching tensions, and Ukraine’s military response and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility generally, have severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, and cause volatility in the price of corn, corn futures, and the share price of the Fund.
The price per bushel of corn in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global production and demand. Long term impacts from sanctions, shipping disruptions, collateral war damage, and a potential expansion of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could further disrupt the availability of corn supplies. Ukraine was the fifth largest global exporter of corn last season (accounting for approximately thirteen percent of total global corn exports) and prior to commencement of the Black Sea conflict was expected by the USDA to have become the third largest global exporter of corn this season. Ukraine was the largest global supplier of corn to China last year. Currently, the conflict has halted exports of Ukraine’s corn crop that was harvested last season. Now at question is the ability of farmers in both countries to plant this season’s corn crop in spring of 2022. As such, volatility, trading volumes, and prices in global corn markets have risen dramatically and are expected to continue indefinitely at extreme elevated levels. Given all of the above factors, the Sponsor has no ability to discern when current high levels of volatility will subside.
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To place the impacts of the geopolitical events described above in context, the following table compares the percentage change in corn prices, the price of corn futures contracts, the price of the Fund’s shares, and the increased trading volume of corn futures in the twenty trading days prior to the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (January 27, 2022 to February 23, 2022), compared to the twenty trading days following (February 24, 2022 to March 23, 2022).
Recent geopolitical events have also impacted the level of “backwardation” experienced by the Fund. As illustrated by the table, the Russian invasion and related developments have placed upward pressure on the price of corn and corn futures contracts. As a result, near to expire contracts trade at a higher price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “backwardation.” Putting aside the impact of the overall movement in prices of corn and corn futures, the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts (the corn futures contracts that the Fund invests in to achieve its investment objective) would tend to rise as they approach expiration. This backwardation may benefit the Fund because it will sell more expensive contracts and buy less expensive contracts on an ongoing basis. The degree of backwardation is also shown in the following table.
Conversely, in the event of a corn futures market where near to expire contracts trade at a lower price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “contango,” then absent the impact of the overall movement in corn prices the value of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts would tend to decline as they approach expiration. If the prices of corn and corn futures were to decline, for example, because of a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Fund would experience the negative impact of contango.
DATA POINT
JANUARY 27, 2022 TO FEBRUARY 23, 2022
(20 TRADING DAYS BEFORE THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
FEBRUARY 24, 2022 TO MARCH 23, 2022
(20 TRADING DAYS AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
Corn prices
Average SPOT Corn Price = $6.4170
Average SPOT Corn Price = $7.3895
Corn futures prices
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $6.1519
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $6.7683
Average volume of futures
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 59,695
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 75,493
Degree of backwardation / Roll Yield*
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +6.55% (backwardation)
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +15.44% (backwardation)
Fund share prices
Average Price = $23.1337
Average Price = $25.846
Average share volume
223,271
622,678
* Roll yield is a type of return in commodity futures investing that comes from “rolling” shorter-dated contracts for longer-dated contracts. It is driven by the difference in the price of shorter-dated, closer to maturity commodity contracts (in the table above the actual spot price of corn is used) and their longer-dated counterparts. Roll yields can either be positive or negative, depending on whether the market is in backwardation or contango, respectively.
The United States is the world’s leading producer and exporter of corn. For the Crop Year 2021-22, the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) estimates that the U.S. will produce approximately 32% of all the corn globally, of which about 17% will be exported. For 2021-2022, based on the April 8, 2022 USDA reports, global consumption of 1,197 Million Metric Tons (MMT) is expected to be slightly lower than global production of 1,210 MMT. If the global demand for corn is not equal to global supply, this may have an impact on the price of corn. Besides the United States, other principal world corn exporters include Argentina, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Ukraine. Major import nations include Mexico, Japan, the European Union (EU), South Korea, Egypt and parts of Southeast Asia. China’s production at 273 MMT is approximately 7% less than its domestic usage.
According to the USDA, global corn consumption has increased just over 608% from crop year 1960/1961 to 2021/2022 as demonstrated by the graph below and is projected to continue to grow in coming years. Consumption growth is the result of a combination of many factors including: 1) global population growth, which, according to the U.S. Census Department, is estimated to reach 9.7 billion by 2050; 2) a growing global middle class which is increasing the demand for protein and meat-based products globally and most significantly in developing countries; and 3) increased use of biofuels, including ethanol in the United States.
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Global corn consumption may fluctuate year over year due to any number of reasons which may include, but is not limited to, economic conditions, global health concerns, international trade policy. Corn is a staple commodity used pervasively across the globe so that any contractions in consumption may only be temporary as has historically been the case.
While global consumption of corn has increased over the 1960/1961-2021/2022 period, so has production, driven by increases in acres planted and yield per acre. However, according to the USDA and United Nations, future growth in planted acres and yield may be inhibited by lower productive land, and lack of infrastructure and transportation. In addition, agricultural crops such as corn are highly weather dependent for yield and therefore susceptible to changing weather patterns. In addition, given the current production/consumption patterns, nearly 100% of all corn produced globally is consumed which leaves minimal excess inventory if production issues arise.
The price per bushel of corn in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global production, as well as U.S. and global demand. The graph below shows the USDA published price per bushel by month for the period January 2007 to February 2022.
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On April 8, 2022, the USDA released its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) for the Crop Year 2021-22. The exhibit below provides a summary of historical and current information for United States corn production.
Standard Corn Futures Contracts trade on the CBOT in units of 5,000 bushels. Three grades of corn are deliverable under CBOT Corn Futures Contracts: Number 1 yellow, which may be delivered at 1.5 cents over the contract price; Number 2 yellow, which may be delivered at the contract price; and Number 3 yellow, between a 2 and 4 cents per bushel under contract price depending on broken corn and foreign material and damage grade factors. There are five months each year in which CBOT Corn Futures Contracts expire: March, May, July, September and December.
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If the futures market is in a state of backwardation (i.e., when the price of corn in the future is expected to be less than the current price), the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a lower price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no changes to either prevailing corn prices or the price relationship between immediate delivery, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will rise as it approaches expiration. Over time, if backwardation remained constant, the differences would continue to increase. If the futures market is in contango, the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a higher price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing corn prices or the price relationship between the spot price, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will fall as it approaches expiration. Over time, if contango remained constant, the difference would continue to increase. Historically, the corn futures markets have experienced periods of both contango and backwardation. Frequently, whether contango or backwardation exists is a function, among other factors, of the seasonality of the corn market and the corn harvest cycle. All other things being equal, a situation involving prolonged periods of contango may adversely impact the returns of the Fund; conversely a situation involving prolonged periods of backwardation may positively impact the returns of the Fund.
Futures contracts may be either bought or sold long or short. The U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission weekly releases the “Commitment of Traders” (COT) report, which depicts the open interest as well as long and short positions in the market. Market participants may use this report to gauge market sentiment.
The Soybean Market
Global soybean production is concentrated in the U.S., Brazil, Argentina and China. The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) has estimated that, for the Crop Year 2021-22, the United States will produce approximately 121 MMT of soybeans or approximately 34% of estimated world production, with Brazil production at 125 MMT. Argentina is projected to produce about 44 MMT. For 2021-22, based on the April 8, 2022 USDA report, global consumption of 362 MMT is estimated slightly higher than global production of 351 MMT. If the global demand for soybeans is not equal to global supply, this may have an impact on the price of soybeans. Global soybean consumption may fluctuate year over year due to any number of reasons which may include, but is not limited to, economic conditions, global health concerns, international trade policy. Soybeans are a staple commodity used pervasively across the globe so that any contractions in consumption may only be temporary as has historically been the case. The USDA publishes weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual updates for U.S. domestic and worldwide soybean production and consumption. These reports are available on the USDA’s website, www.usda.gov, at no charge. The outlook provided below is from the April 8, 2022 USDA report.
As a general matter, the occurrence of a severe weather event, natural disaster, terrorist attack, geopolitical events, outbreak, or public health emergency as declared by the World Health Organization, the continuation or expansion of war or other hostilities, or a prolonged government shutdown may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments and alter current assumptions and expectations. For example, in late February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia and other countries in the region and in the west. The responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, the larger overarching tensions, and Ukraine’s military response and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility generally, have severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, and cause volatility in the price of agricultural products, including agricultural futures, and the share price of the Fund.
The price per bushel of soybeans in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global production and demand. The price per bushel of soybeans is also affected by the price of corn; because corn and soybeans are planted on the same acres, farmers must choose which crop to plant each year. If corn prices rise enough to incentivize the planting of corn over soybeans, the supply and price of soybeans could be affected. Long term impacts from sanctions, shipping disruptions, collateral war damage, and a potential expansion of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could further disrupt the availability of agricultural products and supplies. Ukraine was the fifth largest global exporter of corn last season (accounting for approximately thirteen percent of total global corn exports) and prior to commencement of the Black Sea conflict was expected by the USDA to have become the third largest global exporter of corn this season. Ukraine was the largest global supplier of corn to China last year. China is also the largest importer of soybeans in the world. Currently, the conflict has halted exports of Ukraine’s corn crop that was harvested last season. Now at question is the ability of farmers in Russia and China to plant this season’s corn crop in spring of 2022. As such, volatility, trading volumes, and prices in global corn and soybean markets have risen dramatically and are expected to continue indefinitely at extremely elevated levels. Given all of the above factors, the Sponsor has no ability to discern when current high levels of volatility will subside.
To place the impacts of the geopolitical events described above in context, the following table compares the percentage change in soybean prices, the price of soybean futures contracts, the price of the Fund’s shares, and the increased trading volume of soybean futures in the twenty trading days prior to the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (January 27, 2022 to February 23, 2022), compared to the twenty trading days following (February 24, 2022 to March 23, 2022).
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Recent geopolitical events also impacted the level of “backwardation” experienced by the Fund. As illustrated by the table, the Russian invasion and related developments have placed upward pressure on the price of soybean and soybean futures contracts. As a result, near to expire contracts trade at a higher price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “backwardation.” Putting aside the impact of the overall movement in prices of soybean and soybean futures, the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts (the soybean futures contracts that the Fund invests in to achieve its investment objective) would tend to rise as they approach expiration. This backwardation may benefit the Fund because it will sell more expensive contracts and buy less expensive contracts on an ongoing basis. The degree of backwardation is also shown in the following table.
Conversely, in the event of a soybean futures market where near to expire contracts trade at a lower price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “contango,” then absent the impact of the overall movement in soybean prices the value of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts would tend to decline as they approach expiration. If the prices of soybean and soybean futures were to decline, for example, because of a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Fund would experience the negative impact of contango.
DATA POINT
JANUARY 27, 2022 TO FEBRUARY 23, 2022
(20 TRADING DAYS BEFORE THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
FEBRUARY 24, 2022 TO MARCH 23, 2022
(20 TRADING DAYS AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
Soybean prices
Average SPOT Soybean Price = $15.6290
Average SPOT Soybean Price = $16.7648
Soybean futures prices
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $15.2850
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $15.89
Average volume of futures
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 32,288
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 32,104
Degree of backwardation / Roll Yield*
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +7.36% (backwardation)
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +14.76% (backwardation)
Fund share prices
Average Price = $25.9898
Average Price = $27.33475
Average share volume
86,080
144,935
* Roll yield is a type of return in commodity futures investing that comes from “rolling” shorter-dated contracts for longer-dated contracts. It is driven by the difference in the price of shorter-dated, closer to maturity commodity contracts (in the table above the actual spot price of soybean is used) and their longer-dated counterparts. Roll yields can either be positive or negative, depending on whether the market is in backwardation or contango, respectively.
The soybean processing industry converts soybeans into soybean meal, soybean hulls, and soybean oil. Soybean meal and soybean hulls are processed into soy flour or soy protein, which are used, along with other commodities, by livestock producers and the fish farming industry as feed. Soybean oil is sold in multiple grades and is used by the food, petroleum and chemical industries. The food industry uses soybean oil in cooking and salad dressings, baking and frying fats, and butter substitutes, among other uses. In addition, the soybean industry continues to introduce soy-based products as substitutes to various petroleum-based products including lubricants, plastics, inks, crayons and candles. Soybean oil is also converted to biodiesel and renewable diesel for use as fuel.
Standard Soybean Futures Contracts trade on the CBOT in units of 5,000 bushels, although 1,000 bushel “mini-sized” Soybean Futures Contracts also trade. Three grades of soybeans are deliverable under CBOT Soybean Futures Contracts: Number 1 yellow, which may be delivered at 6 cents per bushel over the contract price; Number 2 yellow, which may be delivered at the contract price; and Number 3 yellow, which may be delivered at 6 cents per bushel under the contract price. There are seven months each year in which CBOT Soybean Futures Contracts expire: January, March, May, July, August, September and November.
If the futures market is in a state of backwardation (i.e., when the price of soybeans in the future is expected to be less than the current price), the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a lower price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no changes to either prevailing soybean prices or the price relationship between immediate delivery, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will rise as it approaches expiration. If the futures market is in contango, the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a higher price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing soybean prices or the price relationship between the spot price, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will fall as it approaches expiration. Historically, the soybeans futures markets have experienced periods of both contango and backwardation. Frequently, whether contango or backwardation exists is a function, among other factors, of the seasonality of the soybean market and the soybean harvest cycle. All other things being equal, a situation involving prolonged periods of contango may adversely impact the returns of the Fund; conversely a situation involving prolonged periods of backwardation may positively impact the returns of the Fund.
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The price per bushel of soybeans in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global production, as well as U.S. and global demand. The graph below shows the USDA published price per bushel by month for the period January 2007 to February 2022.
On April 8, 2022, the USDA released its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) for the Crop Year 2022-23. The exhibit below provides a summary of historical and current information for United States soybean production.
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The Sugar Market
Sugarcane accounts for nearly 80% of the world’s sugar production, while sugar beets account for the remainder of the world’s sugar production. Sugar manufacturers use sugar beets and sugarcane as the raw material from which refined sugar (sucrose) for industrial and consumer use is produced. Sugar is produced in various forms, including granulated, powdered, liquid, brown, and molasses. The food industry (in particular, producers of baked goods, beverages, cereal, confections, and dairy products) uses sugar and sugarcane molasses to make sugar-containing food products. Sugar beet pulp and molasses products are used as animal feed ingredients. Ethanol is an important by-product of sugarcane processing. Additionally, the material that is left over after sugarcane is processed is used to manufacture paper, cardboard, and “environmentally friendly” eating utensils.
As a general matter, the occurrence of a severe weather event, natural disaster, terrorist attack, geopolitical events, outbreak or public health emergency as declared by the World Health Organization, the continuation or expansion of war or other hostilities, or a prolonged government shutdown may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments and alter current assumptions and expectations. For example, in late February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia and other countries in the region and in the west. The responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, the larger overarching tensions, and Ukraine’s military response and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility generally, have severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, and cause volatility in the price of agricultural products, including agricultural futures, and the share price of the Fund.
The price per pound of sugar in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global production and demand as well as expansive protectionist policies implemented by the US Government. Long term impacts from sanctions, shipping disruptions, collateral war damage, and a potential expansion of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could further disrupt the availability of agricultural products and supplies. Russian production of sugar comes primarily from sugar beets, accounting for approximately three percent or less of total global sugar production. Ukraine’s sugar production is small and relatively inconsequential to global sugar markets. Currently, the conflict has dramatically reduced exports of Russian sugar. Now at question is the ability of farmers in both countries to plant this season’s sugar beet crop in 2022. Volatility, trading volumes, and prices in global sugar markets have risen dramatically and are expected to continue indefinitely at extreme elevated levels. Given all of the above factors, the Sponsor has no ability to discern when current high levels of volatility will subside.
To place the impacts of the geopolitical events described above in context, the following table compares the percentage change in sugar prices, the price of sugar futures contracts, the price of the Fund’s shares, and the increased trading volume of sugar futures in the twenty trading days prior to the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (January 27, 2022 to February 23, 2022), compared to the twenty trading days following (February 24, 2022 to March 23, 2022).
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Recent geopolitical events have also impacted the level of “backwardation” experienced by the Fund. As illustrated by the table, the Russian invasion and related developments have placed upward pressure on the price of sugar and sugar futures contracts. As a result, near to expire contracts trade at a higher price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “backwardation.” Putting aside the impact of the overall movement in prices of sugar and sugar futures, the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts (the sugar futures contracts that the Fund invests in to achieve its investment objective) would tend to rise as they approach expiration. This backwardation may benefit the Fund because it will sell more expensive contracts and buy less expensive contracts on an ongoing basis. The degree of backwardation is also shown in the following table.
Conversely, in the event of a sugar futures market where near to expire contracts trade at a lower price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “contango,” then absent the impact of the overall movement in sugar prices the value of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts would tend to decline as they approach expiration. If the prices of sugar and sugar futures were to decline, for example, because of a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Fund would experience the negative impact of contango.
DATA POINT
JANUARY 27, 2022 TO FEBRUARY 23, 2022 (20 TRADING DAYS BEFORE THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
FEBRUARY 24, 2022 TO MARCH 23, 2022 (20 TRADING DAYS AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
Sugar prices
Average SPOT Sugar Price = $0.182305
Average SPOT Sugar Price = $0.18863
Sugar futures prices
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $0.178154
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $0.186628
Average volume of futures
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 22,770
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 17,887
Degree of backwardation / Roll Yield*
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +5.31% (backwardation)
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +3.83% (backwardation)
Fund share prices
Average Price = $8.8918
Average Price = $9.3741
Average share volume
71,990
132,885
* Roll yield is a type of return in commodity futures investing that comes from “rolling” shorter-dated contracts for longer-dated contracts. It is driven by the difference in the price of shorter-dated, closer to maturity commodity contracts (in the table above the actual spot price of sugar is used) and their longer-dated counterparts. Roll yields can either be positive or negative, depending on whether the market is in backwardation or contango, respectively.
The Sugar No. 11 Futures Contract is the world benchmark contract for raw sugar trading. This contract prices the physical delivery of raw cane sugar, delivered to the receiver’s vessel at a specified port within the country of origin of the sugar. Sugar No. 11 Futures Contracts trade on ICE Futures US and the NYMEX in units of 112,000 pounds.
The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) publishes two major reports annually on U.S. domestic and worldwide sugar production and consumption. These are usually released in November and May. In addition, the USDA publishes periodic, but not as comprehensive, reports on sugar monthly. These reports are available on the USDA’s website, www.usda.gov, at no charge. The USDA’s November 2021 report for the 2021/22 Marketing year estimated global production of 181 MMT, with the drop in Brazil expected to be offset by gains in European Union, India, Russia, and Thailand. Consumption is expected to rise due to growth in markets including China, India, and Russia. Stocks are lowered due to a drop in China, Indonesia, and Thailand. Exports are expected to be flat as the steep rise in Thailand trade is offset by lower shipments from Brazil. Global sugar consumption may fluctuate year over year due to any number of reasons which may include, but is not limited to, economic conditions, global health concerns, international trade policy. Sugar is a staple commodity used pervasively across the globe so that any contractions in consumption may only be temporary as has historically been the case.
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If the futures market is in a state of backwardation (i.e., when the price of sugar in the future is expected to be less than the current price), the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a lower price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no changes to either prevailing sugar prices or the price relationship between immediate delivery, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will rise as it approaches expiration. If the futures market is in contango, the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a higher price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing sugar prices or the price relationship between the spot price, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will fall as it approaches expiration. Historically, the sugar futures markets have experienced periods of both contango and backwardation. Frequently, whether contango or backwardation exists is a function, among other factors, of the seasonality of the sugar market and the sugar harvest cycle. All other things being equal, a situation involving prolonged periods of contango may adversely impact the returns of the Funds; conversely a situation involving prolonged periods of backwardation may positively impact the returns of the Funds.
Futures contracts may be either bought or sold long or short. The U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission weekly releases the “Commitment of Traders” (COT) report, which depicts the open interest as well as long and short positions in the market. Market participants may use this report to gauge market sentiment.
The Wheat Market
Wheat is used to produce flour, the key ingredient for breads, pasta, crackers and many other food products, as well as several industrial products such as starches and adhesives. Wheat by-products are used in livestock feeds. Wheat is the principal food grain produced in the United States, and the United States’ output of wheat is typically exceeded only by that of China, the European Union, Russia, and India. The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) estimates that for 2021-22, the principal global producers of wheat will be the EU, Russia, Ukraine, China, India, the United States, Australia and Canada. The U.S. generates approximately 6% of global production, with approximately 48% of that being exported. For 2021-22, based on the April 8, 2022 USDA report, global consumption of 791 MMT is estimated to be slightly higher than production of 779 MMT. If the global demand of wheat is not equal to global supply, this may have an impact on the price of wheat. Global wheat consumption may fluctuate year over year due to any number of reasons which may include, but is not limited to, economic conditions, global health concerns, international trade policy. Wheat is a staple commodity used pervasively across the globe so that any contractions in consumption may only be temporary as has historically been the case. The USDA publishes weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual updates for U.S. domestic and worldwide wheat production and consumption. These reports are available on the USDA’s website, www.usda.gov, at no charge. The outlook provided herein is from the April 8, 2022 USDA report. However, as discussed immediately below, there have been significant geopolitical developments since the issuance of the April 8th USDA Report that may significantly alter assumptions and expectations and the potential for resulting volatility and losses.
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As a general matter, the occurrence of a severe weather event, natural disaster, terrorist attack, geopolitical events, outbreak, or public health emergency as declared by the World Health Organization, the continuation or expansion of war or other hostilities, or a prolonged government shutdown may have significant adverse effects on the Fund and its investments and alter current assumptions and expectations. For example, in late February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia and other countries in the region and in the west. The responses of countries and political bodies to Russia’s actions, the larger overarching tensions, and Ukraine’s military response and the potential for wider conflict may increase financial market volatility generally, have severe adverse effects on regional and global economic markets, and cause volatility in the price of wheat, wheat futures and the share price of the Fund.
The price per bushel of wheat in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global wheat production and demand. Russia and Ukraine constitute the top export supply of wheat by volume (approximately 30 percent of total global wheat exports) to the world. The escalating conflict between the two countries, including but not limited to, sanctions, shipping disruptions, and collateral war damage could further disrupt the availability of wheat supplies. The conflict has halted exports of the wheat crop that was harvested last season and is currently in storage. If tensions continue, there is risk in the ability for farmers to harvest the current wheat crop which will come to maturity in early summer of 2022. As such, volatility, trading volumes, and prices in global wheat markets have risen dramatically and are expected to continue indefinitely at extreme elevated levels. Given all of the above factors, the Sponsor has no ability to discern when current high levels of volatility will subside.
To place the impacts of the geopolitical events described above in context, the following table compares the percentage change in wheat prices, the price of wheat futures contracts, the price of the Fund’s shares, and the increased trading volume of wheat futures in the twenty trading days prior to the date of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (January 27, 2022 to February 23, 2022), compared to the twenty trading days following (February 24, 2022 to March 23, 2022).
Recent geopolitical events have also impacted the level of “backwardation” experienced by the Fund. As illustrated by the table, the Russian invasion and related developments have placed upward pressure on the price of wheat and wheat futures contracts. As a result, near to expire contracts trade at a higher price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “backwardation.” Putting aside the impact of the overall movement in prices of wheat and wheat futures, the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts (the wheat futures contracts that the Fund invests in to achieve its investment objective) would tend to rise as they approach expiration. This backwardation may benefit the Fund because it will sell more expensive contracts and buy less expensive contracts on an ongoing basis. The degree of backwardation is also shown in the following table.
Conversely, in the event of a wheat futures market where near to expire contracts trade at a lower price than longer to expire contracts, a situation referred to as “contango,” then absent the impact of the overall movement in wheat prices the value of the Benchmark Component Futures Contracts would tend to decline as they approach expiration. If the prices of wheat and wheat futures were to decline, for example, because of a resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Fund would experience the negative impact of contango.
DATA POINT
JANUARY 27, 2022 TO FEBRUARY 23, 2022 (20 TRADING DAYS BEFORE THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
FEBRUARY 24, 2022 TO MARCH 23, 2022 (20 TRADING DAYS AFTER THE RUSSIAN INVASION)
Wheat prices
Average SPOT Wheat Price = $7.8632
Average SPOT Wheat Price = $11.13713
Wheat futures prices
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $7.8971
Average Futures Price Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = $10.25
Average volume of futures
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 19,409
Average Volume Across next 4 contracts (excluding SPOT month) = 34,279
Degree of backwardation / Roll Yield*
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = -0.23% (contango)
Average Daily Roll Yield to SPOT Across 7 Contracts Period Averaged = +26.56% (backwardation)
Fund share prices
Average Price = $7.5737
Average Price = $10.18
Average share volume
639,398
8,273,913
* Roll yield is a type of return in commodity futures investing that comes from “rolling” shorter-dated contracts for longer-dated contracts. It is driven by the difference in the price of shorter-dated, closer to maturity commodity contracts (in the table above the actual spot price of wheat is used) and their longer-dated counterparts. Roll yields can either be positive or negative, depending on whether the market is in backwardation or contango, respectively.
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There are several types of wheat grown in the U.S., which are classified in terms of color, hardness, and growing season. CBOT Wheat Futures Contracts call for delivery of #2 soft red winter wheat, which is generally grown in the eastern third of the United States, but other types and grades of wheat may also be delivered (Grade #1 soft red winter wheat, Hard Red Winter, Dark Northern Spring and Northern Spring wheat may be delivered at 3 cents premium per bushel over the contract price and #2 soft red winter wheat, Hard Red Winter, Dark Northern Spring and Northern Spring wheat may be delivered at the contract price.) Winter wheat is planted in the fall and is harvested in the late spring or early summer of the following year, while spring wheat is planted in the spring and harvested in late summer or fall of the same year. Standard Wheat Futures Contracts trade on the CBOT in units of 5,000 bushels. There are five months each year in which CBOT Wheat Futures Contracts expire: March, May, July, September and December.
If the futures market is in a state of backwardation (i.e., when the price of wheat in the future is expected to be less than the current price), the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a lower price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no changes to either prevailing wheat prices or the price relationship between immediate delivery, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will rise as it approaches expiration. If the futures market is in contango, the Fund will buy later to expire contracts for a higher price than the sooner to expire contracts that it sells. Hypothetically, and assuming no other changes to either prevailing wheat prices or the price relationship between the spot price, soon to expire contracts and later to expire contracts, the value of a contract will fall as it approaches expiration. Historically, the wheat futures markets have experienced periods of both contango and backwardation. Frequently, whether contango or backwardation exists is a function, among other factors, of the seasonality of the wheat market and the wheat harvest cycle. All other things being equal, a situation involving prolonged periods of contango may adversely impact the returns of the Fund; conversely a situation involving prolonged periods of backwardation may positively impact the returns of the Fund.
Futures contracts may be either bought or sold long or short. The U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission weekly releases the “Commitment of Traders” (COT) report, which depicts the open interest as well as long and short positions in the market. Market participants may use this report to gauge market sentiment.
The price per bushel of wheat in the United States is primarily a function of both U.S. and global production, as well as U.S. and global demand. The graph below shows the USDA published price per bushel by month for the period January 2007 to February 2022.
On April 8, 2022, the USDA released its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) for the Crop Year 2021-22. The exhibit below provides a summary of historical and current information for United States wheat production.
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Calculating the Net Asset Value
The NAV of each Fund is calculated by:
•
taking the current market value of its total assets, and
•
subtracting any liabilities.
The Administrator calculates the NAV of the Fund once each trading day. It calculates NAV as of the earlier of the close of the New York Stock Exchange or 4:00 p.m. (EST). The NAV for a particular trading day is released after 4:15 p.m. (EST).
In determining the value of the Futures Contracts for each Fund, the Administrator uses the closing price on the exchange on which the commodity is traded, commonly referred to as the settlement price. The time of settlement for each exchange is determined by that exchange and may change from time to time. The current settlement time for each exchange can be found at the respective website for the CBOT or ICE, as the case may be, as follows:
1) for the CBOT (CORN, SOYB and WEAT) http://www.cmegroup.com/trading_hours/commodities-hours.html;
2) for ICE (CANE) http://www.theice.com/productguide/Search.shtml?tradingHours=.
The Administrator determines the value of all other investments for each Fund as of the earlier of the close of the New York Stock Exchange or 4:00 p.m., (EST), in accordance with the current Services Agreement between the Administrator and the Trust.
The value of over the counter Commodity Interests will be determined based on the value of the commodity or Futures Contract underlying such Commodity Interest, except that a fair value may be determined if the Sponsor believes that a Fund is subject to significant credit risk relating to the counterparty to such Commodity Interest. For purposes of financial statements and reports, the Sponsor will recalculate the NAV of a specific Fund where necessary to reflect the “fair value” of a Futures Contract when the Futures Contract of such Fund closes at its price fluctuation limit for the day. Treasury Securities held by the Fund are valued by the Administrator using values received from recognized third-party vendors (such as Reuters) and dealer quotes. The NAV includes any unrealized profit or loss on open Commodity Interests and any other credit or debit accruing to each Fund but unpaid or not received by the Fund.
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In addition, in order to provide updated information relating to the Funds for use by investors and market professionals, ICE Data Indices, LLC calculates and disseminates throughout the trading day an updated indicative fund value for each Fund. The indicative fund value is calculated by using the prior day’s closing NAV per share of the Fund as a base and updating that value throughout the trading day to reflect changes in the value of the Fund’s Commodity Interests during the trading day. Changes in the value of short-term Treasury Securities and cash equivalents will not be included in the calculation of indicative value throughout the day. For this and other reasons, the indicative fund value disseminated during NYSE Arca trading hours should not be viewed as an actual real time update of the NAV for each Fund. The NAV is calculated only once at the end of each trading day.
The indicative fund value is disseminated on a per Share basis every 15 seconds during regular NYSE Arca trading hours of 9:30 a.m., (EST), to 4:00 p.m., (EST). The CBOT and the ICE are generally open for trading only during specified hours which vary by exchange and may be adjusted by the exchange. However, the futures markets on these exchanges do not currently operate twenty-four hours per day. In addition, there may be some trading hours which may be limited to electronic trading only. This means that there is a gap in time at the beginning and the end of each day during which the Fund’s Shares are traded on the NYSE Arca, when, for example, real-time CBOT trading prices for Corn Futures Contracts traded on such Exchange are not available. As a result, during those gaps there will be no update to the indicative fund values. The most current trading hours for each exchange may be found on the website of that exchange as listed above.
ICE Data Indices, LLC disseminates the indicative fund value through the facilities of CTA/CQ High Speed Lines. In addition, the indicative fund value is published on the NYSE Arca’s website and is available through on-line information services such as Bloomberg and Reuters.
Dissemination of the indicative fund value provides additional information that is not otherwise available to the public and is useful to investors and market professionals in connection with the trading of Fund Shares on the NYSE Arca. Investors and market professionals are able throughout the trading day to compare the market price of the Fund and the indicative fund value. If the market price of Fund Shares diverges significantly from the indicative fund value, market professionals may have an incentive to execute arbitrage trades. For example, if the Fund appears to be trading at a discount compared to the indicative fund value, a market professional could buy Fund Shares on the NYSE Arca, aggregate them into Redemption Baskets, and receive the NAV of such Shares by redeeming them to the Trust, provided that there is not a minimum number of shares outstanding for the Fund. Such arbitrage trades can tighten the tracking between the market price of the Fund and the indicative fund value.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Trust’s critical accounting policies for all the Funds are as follows:
1.
Preparation of the financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires the application of appropriate accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates, and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenue and expense and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities during the reporting period of the combined financial statements and accompanying notes. The Trust’s application of these policies involves judgments and actual results may differ from the estimates used.
2.
The Sponsor has determined that the valuation of commodity interests that are not traded on a U.S. or internationally recognized futures exchange (such as swaps and other over the counter contracts) involves a critical accounting policy. The values which are used by the Funds for futures contracts will be provided by the commodity broker who will use market prices when available, while over the counter contracts will be valued based on the present value of estimated future cash flows that would be received from or paid to a third party in settlement of these derivative contracts prior to their delivery date. Values will be determined on a daily basis.
3.
Commodity futures contracts held by the Funds are recorded on the trade date. All such transactions are recorded on the identified cost basis and marked to market daily. Unrealized appreciation or depreciation on commodity futures contracts are reflected in the statement of operations as the difference between the original contract amount and the fair market value as of the last business day of the year or as of the last date of the financial statements. Changes in the appreciation or depreciation between periods are reflected in the statement of operations. Interest on cash equivalents and deposits are recognized on the accrual basis. The Funds earn interest on funds held at the custodian or other financial institutions at prevailing market rates for such investments.
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4.
Cash and cash equivalents are cash held at financial institutions in demand-deposit accounts or highly liquid investments with original maturity dates of three months or less at inception. The Funds report cash equivalents in the statements of assets and liabilities at market value, or at carrying amounts that approximate fair value, because of their highly liquid nature and short-term maturities. The Funds have a substantial portion of assets on deposit with banks. Assets deposited with financial institutions may, at times, exceed federally insured limits.
5.
The use of fair value to measure financial instruments, with related unrealized gains or losses recognized in earnings in each period is fundamental to the Trust’s financial statements. In accordance with GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
In determining fair value, the Trust uses various valuation approaches. In accordance with GAAP, a fair value hierarchy for inputs is used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Trust. Unobservable inputs reflect the Trust’s assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The fair value hierarchy is categorized into three levels: a) Level 1 - Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access. Valuation adjustments and block discounts are not applied to Level 1 securities and financial instruments. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these securities and financial instruments does not entail a significant degree of judgment, b) Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly, and c) Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement. See the notes within the financial statements for further information.
The Funds and the Trust record their derivative activities at fair value. Gains and losses from derivative contracts are included in the statement of operations. Derivative contracts include futures contracts related to commodity prices. Futures, which are listed on a national securities exchange, such as the CBOT or ICE, or reported on another national market, are generally categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. OTC derivatives contracts (such as forward and swap contracts) which may be valued using models, depending on whether significant inputs are observable or unobservable, are categorized in Levels 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
6.
Effective August 21, 2019, the Funds began recognizing brokerage commissions on a per-trade basis. Prior to this date, brokerage commissions on all open commodity futures contracts were accrued on a full-turn basis.
7.
Margin is the minimum amount of funds that must be deposited by a commodity interest trader with the trader’s broker to initiate and maintain an open position in futures contracts. A margin deposit acts to assure the trader’s performance of the futures contracts purchased or sold. Futures contracts are customarily bought and sold on initial margin that represents a very small percentage of the aggregate purchase or sales price of the contract. Because of such low margin requirements, price fluctuations occurring in the futures markets may create profits and losses that, in relation to the amount invested, are greater than customary in other forms of investment or speculation. As discussed below, adverse price changes in the futures contract may result in margin requirements that greatly exceed the initial margin. In addition, the amount of margin required in connection with a particular futures contract may be modified from time to time by the exchange during the term of the contract. Brokerage firms, such as the Funds’ clearing brokers, carrying accounts for traders in commodity interest contracts generally require higher amounts of margin as a matter of policy to further protect themselves. Over the counter trading generally involves the extension of credit between counterparties, so the counterparties may agree to require the posting of collateral by one or both parties to address credit exposure.
When a trader purchases an option, there is no margin requirement; however, the option premium must be paid in full. When a trader sells an option, on the other hand, he or she is required to deposit margin in an amount determined by the margin requirements established for the underlying interest and, in addition, an amount substantially equal to the current premium for the option. The margin requirements imposed on the selling of options, although adjusted to reflect the probability that out of the money options will not be exercised, can in fact be higher than those imposed in dealing in the futures markets directly. Complicated margin requirements apply to spreads and conversions, which are complex trading strategies in which a trader acquires a mixture of options positions and positions in the underlying interest.
Ongoing or “maintenance” margin requirements are computed each day by a trader’s clearing broker. When the market value of a particular open futures contract changes to a point where the margin on deposit does not satisfy maintenance margin requirements, a margin call is made by the broker. If the margin call is not met within a reasonable time, the broker may close out the trader’s position. With respect to the Funds’ trading, the Funds (and not its shareholders personally) are subject to margin calls.
Finally, many major U.S. exchanges have passed certain cross margining arrangements involving procedures pursuant to which the futures and options positions held in an account would, in the case of some accounts, be aggregated, and margin requirements would be assessed on a portfolio basis, measuring the total risk of the combined positions.
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8.
Due from/to broker for investments in financial instruments are securities transactions pending settlement. The Trust and TAGS are subject to credit risk to the extent any broker with whom it conducts business is unable to fulfill contractual obligations on its behalf. The management of the Trust and the Funds monitors the financial condition of such brokers and does not anticipate any losses from these counterparties. From inception through September 11, 2019 the principal broker through which the Trust and TAGS can execute securities transaction for TAGS was the Bank of New York Mellon Capital Markets. Effective September 11, 2019 the principal broker through which the Trust and TAGS has the ability to clear securities transactions for TAGS is U.S. Bank N.A.
9.
The Sponsor is responsible for investing the assets of the Fund in accordance with the objectives and policies of the Fund. The Fund pays for all brokerage fees, taxes and other expenses, including licensing fees for the use of intellectual property, registration or other fees paid to the SEC, FINRA, formally the National Association of Securities Dealers, or any other regulatory agency in connection with the offer and sale of subsequent Shares after its initial registration and all legal, accounting, printing and other expenses associated therewith. The Fund also pays its portion of the fees and expenses for services directly attributable to the Fund such as accounting, financial reporting, regulatory compliance and trading activities, which the Sponsor elected not to outsource. Certain aggregate expenses common to all Teucrium Funds within the Trust are allocated by the Sponsor to the respective Funds based on activity drivers deemed most appropriate by the Sponsor for such expenses, including but not limited to relative assets under management and creation order activity. These aggregate common expenses include, but are not limited to, legal, auditing, accounting and financial reporting, tax-preparation, regulatory compliance, trading activities, and insurance costs, as well as fees paid to the Distributor. A portion of these aggregate common expenses are related to the Sponsor or related parties of principals of the Sponsor; these are necessary services to the Teucrium Funds, which are primarily the cost of performing certain accounting and financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and trading activities that are directly attributable to the Fund and are included, primarily, in distribution and marketing fees. In addition, the Funds, except for TAGS which has no such fee, are contractually obligated to pay a monthly management fee to the Sponsor, based on average daily net assets, at a rate equal to 1.00% per annum.
10.
The investment objective of TAGS is to have the daily changes in percentage terms of the Net Asset Value (“NAV”) of its common units (“Shares”) reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of a weighted average (the “Underlying Fund Average”) of the NAVs per share of four other commodity pools that are series of the Trust and are sponsored by the Sponsor: the Teucrium Corn Fund, the Teucrium Wheat Fund, the Teucrium Soybean Fund and the Teucrium Sugar Fund (collectively, the “Underlying Funds”). The Underlying Fund Average will have a weighting of 25% to each Underlying Fund, and the Fund’s assets will be rebalanced, generally on a daily basis, to maintain the approximate 25% allocation to each Underlying Fund. As such, TAGS will buy, sell and hold as part of its normal operations shares of the four Underlying Funds. The Trust excludes the shares of the other series of the Trust owned by the Teucrium Agricultural Fund from its statements of assets and liabilities. The Trust excludes the net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation on securities owned by the Teucrium Agricultural Fund from its statements of operations. Upon the sale of the Underlying Funds by the Teucrium Agricultural Fund, the Trust includes any realized gain or loss in its statements of changes in net assets.
11.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Funds will be treated as partnerships. Therefore, the Funds do not record a provision for income taxes because the partners report their share of a Fund’s income or loss on their income tax returns. The financial statements reflect the Funds’ transactions without adjustment, if any, required for income tax purposes.
12.
For commercial paper, the Funds use the effective interest method for calculating the actual interest rate in a period based on the amount of a financial instrument’s book value at the beginning of the accounting period. Accretion on these investments is recognized using the effective interest method in U.S. dollars and recognized in cash equivalents. All discounts on purchase prices of debt securities are accreted over the life of the respective security.
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Credit Risk
When any of the Funds enter into Commodity Interests, it will be exposed to the credit risk that the counterparty will not be able to meet its obligations. For purposes of credit risk, the counterparty for the Futures Contracts traded on the CBOT and ICE is the clearinghouse associated with those exchanges. In general, clearinghouses are backed by their members who may be required to share in the financial burden resulting from the nonperformance of one of their members, which should significantly reduce credit risk. Some foreign exchanges are not backed by their clearinghouse members but may be backed by a consortium of banks or other financial institutions. Unlike in the case of exchange traded futures contracts, the counterparty to an over the counter Commodity Interest contract is generally a single bank or other financial institution. As a result, there will be greater counterparty credit risk in over the counter transactions. There can be no assurance that any counterparty, clearinghouse, or their financial backers will satisfy their obligations to any of the Funds.
The Funds may engage in off exchange transactions broadly called an “exchange for risk” transaction, also referred to as an “exchange for swap.” For purposes of the Dodd-Frank Act and related CFTC rules, an “exchange for risk” transaction is treated as a “swap.” An “exchange for risk” transaction, sometimes referred to as an “exchange for swap” or “exchange of futures for risk,” is a privately negotiated and simultaneous exchange of a futures contract position for a swap or other over the counter instrument on the corresponding commodity. An exchange for risk transaction can be used by the Funds as a technique to avoid taking physical delivery of a commodity futures contract, corn for example, in that a counterparty will take the Fund’s position in a Corn Futures Contract into its own account in exchange for a swap that does not by its terms call for physical delivery. The Funds will become subject to the credit risk of a counterparty when it acquires an over the counter position in an exchange for risk transaction. The Fund may use an “exchange for risk” transaction in connection with the creation and redemption of shares. These transactions must be carried out only in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange where the futures contracts trade.
The Sponsor will attempt to manage the credit risk of each Fund by following certain trading limitations and policies. In particular, each Fund intends to post margin and collateral and/or hold liquid assets that will be equal to approximately the face amount of the Interests it holds. The Sponsor will implement procedures that will include, but will not be limited to, executing and clearing trades and entering into over the counter transactions only with parties it deems creditworthy and/or requiring the posting of collateral by such parties for the benefit of each Fund to limit its credit exposure.
The CEA requires all FCMs, such as the Teucrium Funds’ clearing brokers, to meet and maintain specified fitness and financial requirements, to segregate customer funds from proprietary funds and account separately for all customers’ funds and positions, and to maintain specified books and records open to inspection by the staff of the CFTC. The CFTC has similar authority over introducing brokers, or persons who solicit or accept orders for commodity interest trades but who do not accept margin deposits for the execution of trades. The CEA authorizes the CFTC to regulate trading by FCMs and by their officers and directors, permits the CFTC to require action by exchanges in the event of market emergencies, and establishes an administrative procedure under which customers may institute complaints for damages arising from alleged violations of the CEA. The CEA also gives the states powers to enforce its provisions and the regulations of the CFTC.
On November 14, 2013, the CFTC published final regulations that require enhanced customer protections, risk management programs, internal monitoring and controls, capital and liquidity standards, customer disclosures and auditing and examination programs for FCMs. The rules are intended to afford greater assurances to market participants that customer segregated funds and secured amounts are protected, customers are provided with appropriate notice of the risks of futures trading and of the FCMs with which they may choose to do business, FCMs are monitoring and managing risks in a robust manner, the capital and liquidity of FCMs are strengthened to safeguard the continued operations and the auditing and examination programs of the CFTC and the SROs are monitoring the activities of FCMs in a thorough manner.
E D & F Man Capital Markets Inc. (“E D & F Man”) and StoneX Financial Inc. - FCM Division of INTL FCStone Financial Inc. (‘StoneX”) are the Funds’ FCMs and the clearing brokers to execute and clear the Funds’ futures and provide other brokerage-related services.
The Funds, other than TAGS, will generally retain cash positions of approximately 95% of total net assets; this balance represents the total net assets less the initial margin requirements held by the FCM. These cash assets are either: 1) deposited by the Sponsor in demand deposit accounts of financial institutions which are deemed by the Sponsor to be of investment level quality, 2) held in a money-market fund which is deemed to be a cash equivalent under the most recent SEC definition, or 3) held in a cash equivalent with a maturity of 90 days or less that is deemed by the Sponsor to be of investment level quality.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Funds do not anticipate making use of borrowings or other lines of credit to meet their obligations. The Funds meet their liquidity needs in the normal course of business from the proceeds of the sale of their investments from the cash and cash equivalents that they intend to hold, and/or from the fee waivers provided by the Sponsor. The Funds’ liquidity needs include redeeming their shares, providing margin deposits for existing Futures Contracts or the purchase of additional Futures Contracts, posting collateral for over the counter Commodity Interests, and paying expenses.
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The Funds generate cash primarily from (i) the sale of Creation Baskets and (ii) interest earned on cash and cash equivalents. Generally, all of the net assets of the Funds are allocated to trading in Commodity Interests. Most of the assets of the Funds are held in cash and/or cash equivalents. The percentage that such assets bear to the total net assets will vary from period to period as the market values of the Commodity Interests change. Interest earned on interest-bearing assets of a Fund are paid to that Fund. During times of extreme market volatility and economic uncertainty, the Funds may experience a significant change in interest rates, and as such the Funds may experience a change in the breakeven point.
The investments of a Fund in Commodity Interests are subject to periods of illiquidity because of market conditions, regulatory considerations, and other reasons. For example, U.S. futures exchanges limit the fluctuations in the prices of certain Futures Contracts during a single day by regulations referred to as “daily limits.” During a single day, no trades may be executed at prices beyond the daily limit. Once the price of such a Futures Contract has increased or decreased by an amount equal to the daily limit, positions in the contracts can neither be taken nor liquidated unless the traders are willing to effect trades at or within the limit. Such market conditions could prevent the Fund from promptly liquidating a position in Futures Contracts.
War and other geopolitical events in eastern Europe, including but not limited to Russia and Ukraine, may cause volatility in commodity prices including energy and grain prices, due to the region’s importance to these markets, potential impacts to global transportation and shipping, and other supply chain disruptions. These events are unpredictable and may lead to extended periods of price volatility.
More generally, a climate of uncertainty and panic, including the contagion of the COVID-19 virus and other infectious viruses or diseases, may adversely affect global, regional, and local economies and reduce the availability of potential investment opportunities, and increases the difficulty of performing due diligence and modeling market conditions, potentially reducing the accuracy of financial projections. Under these circumstances, the Funds may have difficulty achieving their investment objectives which may adversely impact performance. Further, such events can be highly disruptive to economies and markets, significantly disrupt the operations of individual companies (including, but not limited to, the Funds’ Sponsor and third party service providers), sectors, industries, markets, securities and commodity exchanges, currencies, interest and inflation rates, credit ratings, investor sentiment, and other factors affecting the value of the Funds’ investments. These factors could cause substantial market volatility, exchange trading suspensions and closures that could impact the ability of the Funds to complete redemptions and otherwise affect Fund performance and Fund trading in the secondary market. A widespread crisis may also affect the global economy in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the current time. How long such events will last and whether they will continue or recur cannot be predicted. Impacts from these events could have significant impact on a Fund’s performance, resulting in losses to your investment. The global economic shocks being experienced as of the date hereof may cause the underlying assumptions and expectations of the Funds to become outdated quickly or inaccurate, resulting in significant losses.
Market Risk
Trading in Commodity Interests such as Futures Contracts will involve the Funds entering into contractual commitments to purchase or sell specific amounts of commodities at a specified date in the future. The gross or face amount of the contracts is expected to significantly exceed the future cash requirements of each Fund as each Fund intends to close out any open positions prior to the contractual expiration date. As a result, each Fund’s market risk is the risk of loss arising from the decline in value of the contracts, not from the need to make delivery under the contracts. The Funds consider the “fair value” of derivative instruments to be the unrealized gain or loss on the contracts. The market risk associated with the commitment by the Funds to purchase a specific commodity will be limited to the aggregate face amount of the contacts held.
The exposure of the Funds to market risk will depend on a number of factors including the markets for the specific commodity, the volatility of interest rates and foreign exchange rates, the liquidity of the Commodity Specific Interests markets and the relationships among the contracts held by each Fund.
Regulatory Considerations
The regulation of futures markets, futures contracts, and futures exchanges has historically been comprehensive. The CFTC and the exchanges are authorized to take extraordinary actions in the event of a market emergency including, for example, the retroactive implementation of speculative position limits, increased margin requirements, the establishment of daily price limits and the suspension of trading on an exchange or trading facility.
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Pursuant to authority in the CEA, the NFA has been formed and registered with the CFTC as a registered futures association. At the present time, the NFA is the only SRO for commodity interest professionals, other than futures exchanges. The CFTC has delegated to the NFA responsibility for the registration of CPOs and FCMs and their respective associated persons. The Sponsor and the Fund’s clearing broker are members of the NFA. As such, they will be subject to NFA standards relating to fair trade practices, financial condition and consumer protection. The NFA also arbitrates disputes between members and their customers and conducts registration and fitness screening of applicants for membership and audits of its existing members. Neither the Trust nor the Teucrium Funds are required to become a member of the NFA. The regulation of commodity interest transactions in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. Considerable regulatory attention has been focused on non-traditional investment pools that are publicly distributed in the United States. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes within the United States altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in the Fund, or the ability of a Fund to continue to implement its investment strategy. In addition, various national governments outside of the United States have expressed concern regarding the disruptive effects of speculative trading in the commodities markets and the need to regulate the derivatives markets in general. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Teucrium Funds is impossible to predict but could be substantial and adverse.
The CFTC possesses exclusive jurisdiction to regulate the activities of commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors with respect to “commodity interests,” such as futures, swaps, and options, and has adopted regulations with respect to the activities of those persons and/or entities. Under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”), a registered commodity pool operator, such as the Sponsor, is required to make annual filings with the CFTC and the NFA describing its organization, capital structure, management and controlling persons. In addition, the CEA authorizes the CFTC to require and review books and records of, and documents prepared by, registered commodity pool operators. Pursuant to this authority, the CFTC requires commodity pool operators to keep accurate, current and orderly records for each pool that they operate. The CFTC may suspend the registration of a commodity pool operator (1) if the CFTC finds that the operator’s trading practices tend to disrupt orderly market conditions, (2) if any controlling person of the operator is subject to an order of the CFTC denying such person trading privileges on any exchange, and (3) in certain other circumstances. Suspension, restriction or termination of the Sponsor’s registration as a commodity pool operator would prevent it, until that registration were to be reinstated, from managing the Fund, and might result in the termination of the Fund if a successor sponsor is not elected pursuant to the Trust Agreement. Neither the Trust nor the Fund is required to be registered with the CFTC in any capacity.
The Fund’s investors are afforded prescribed rights for reparations under the CEA. Investors may also be able to maintain a private right of action for violations of the CEA. The CFTC has adopted rules implementing the reparation provisions of the CEA, which provide that any person may file a complaint for a reparations award with the CFTC for violation of the CEA against a floor broker or an FCM, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, CPO, and their respective associated persons.
The regulations of the CFTC and the NFA prohibit any representation by a person registered with the CFTC or by any member of the NFA, that registration with the CFTC, or membership in the NFA, in any respect indicates that the CFTC or the NFA has approved or endorsed that person or that person’s trading program or objectives. The registrations and memberships of the parties described in this summary must not be considered as constituting any such approval or endorsement. Likewise, no futures exchange has given or will give any similar approval or endorsement.
Trading venues in the United States are subject to varying degrees of regulation under the CEA depending on whether such exchange is a designated contract market (i.e., a futures exchange) or a swap execution facility. Clearing organizations are also subject to the CEA and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder as administered by the CFTC. The CFTC’s function is to implement the CEA’s objectives of preventing price manipulation and excessive speculation and promoting orderly and efficient commodity interest markets. In addition, the various exchanges and clearing organizations themselves as SROs exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over their member firms.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted in response to the economic crisis of 2008 and 2009 and it significantly altered the regulatory regime to which the securities and commodities markets are subject. To date, the CFTC has issued proposed or final versions of almost all of the rules it is required to promulgate under the Dodd-Frank Act, and it continues to issue proposed versions of additional rules that it has authority to promulgate. Provisions of the new law include the requirement that position limits be established on a wide range of commodity interests, including agricultural, energy, and metal-based commodity futures contracts, options on such futures contracts and uncleared swaps that are economically equivalent to such futures contracts and options (“Reference Contracts”); new registration and recordkeeping requirements for swap market participants; capital and margin requirements for “swap dealers” and “major swap participants,” as determined by the new law and applicable regulations; reporting of all swap transactions to swap data repositories; and the mandatory use of clearinghouse mechanisms for sufficiently standardized swap transactions that were historically entered into in the over the counter market, but are now designated as subject to the clearing requirement; and margin requirements for over the counter swaps that are not subject to the clearing requirements.
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In addition, considerable regulatory attention has recently been focused on non-traditional publicly distributed investment pools such as the Fund. Furthermore, various national governments have expressed concern regarding the disruptive effects of speculative trading in certain commodity markets and the need to regulate the derivatives markets in general. The effect of any future regulatory change on the Teucrium Funds is impossible to predict but could be substantial and adverse.
The Dodd-Frank Act was intended to reduce systemic risks that may have contributed to the 2008/2009 financial crisis. Since the first draft of what became the Dodd-Frank Act, supporters and opponents have debated the scope of the legislation. As the Administrations of the U.S. change, the interpretation and implementation will change along with them. Nevertheless, regulatory reform of any kind may have a significant impact on U.S. regulated entities.
Position Limits, Aggregation Limits, Price Fluctuation Limits
The CFTC and US futures exchanges impose limits on the maximum net long or net short speculative positions that any person may hold or control in any particular futures or options contracts traded on US futures exchanges. For example, the CFTC currently imposes speculative position limits on a number of agricultural commodities (e.g., corn, oats, wheat, soybeans and cotton) and US futures exchanges currently impose speculative position limits on many other commodities. A Fund could be required to liquidate positions it holds in order to comply with position limits or may not be able to fully implement trading instructions generated by its trading models, in order to comply with position limits. Any such liquidation or limited implementation could result in substantial costs to a Fund.
The Dodd-Frank Act significantly expanded the CFTC’s authority to impose position limits with respect to futures contracts and options on futures contracts, swaps that are economically equivalent to futures or options on futures, and swaps that are traded on a regulated exchange and certain swaps that perform a significant price discovery function. On December 16, 2016, the CFTC issued a final rule to amend part 150 of the CFTC’s regulations with respect to the policy for aggregation under the CFTC’s position limits regime for futures and option contracts on nine agricultural commodities (“the Aggregation Requirements”). This final rule addressed the circumstances under which market participants would be required to aggregate all their positions, for purposes of the position limits, of all positions in Reference Contracts of the 9 agricultural commodities held by a single entity and its affiliates, regardless of whether such positions exist on US futures exchanges, non-US futures exchanges, or in over the counter swaps. An affiliate of a market participant is defined as two or more persons acting pursuant to an express or implied agreement or understanding. The Aggregation Requirements became effective on February 14, 2017. On August 10, 2017, the CFTC issued a No-Action Relief Letter No. 17-37 to clarify several provisions under Regulation 150.4, regarding position aggregation filing requirements of market participants. The Sponsor does not anticipate that this order will have an impact on the ability of a Fund to meet its respective investment objectives.
As published in the January 14, 2021 Federal Register, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) voted to approve a final rule (Final Rule) regarding position limits for certain futures contracts and economically equivalent swaps. The Final Rule ends a decade of rulemaking activity in which the CFTC proposed, amended, and re-proposed its position limit rules and aggregation standards for speculative positions due to certain amendments to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act). In the Final Rule, the CFTC confirmed that federal speculative position limits are necessary for 25 core referenced futures contracts and for any futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are linked to those contracts. The 25 core referenced futures contracts include the nine “legacy” agricultural contracts that are currently subject to federal position limits and 16 additional non-legacy contracts.
The aggregate position limits currently in place under the current position limits and the Aggregation Requirements are as follows for each of the commodities traded by the Funds:
Commodity Future
Spot Month Position Limit
All Month Aggregate Position Limit
corn
1,200 contracts
57,800 contracts
soybean
1,200 contracts
27,300 contracts
sugar
5,000 contracts
Only Accountability Limits
wheat
1,200 contracts
19,300 contracts
The nine legacy contracts are subject to two types of position limits: (1) a position limit that applies in the spot month only and (2) a position limit that applies in any single non-spot month as well as all months combined. Both types of position limits have been updated by the Final Rule. Significantly, the new spot month position limit is higher than or equal to current federal and exchange-set spot month position limits. The new single non-spot month and all-months-combined position limits are also higher than or equal to the respective current federal and exchange-set limits.
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The CFTC also adopted federal position limits on cash-settled futures and options on futures that are directly or indirectly linked to physically settled contracts in order to further the statutory objective in Section 4a(a)(3)(B)(iv) of the CEA—the deterrence and prevention of market manipulation. In taking this step, the CFTC stated that, in the absence of position limits, an entity with positions in both the physically delivered and cash-settled contracts may have an increased ability and an increased incentive to manipulate one of these contracts to benefit positions in the other contract.
To prevent evasion through the creation of economically equivalent futures contracts that do not directly reference the price of the core referenced futures contracts, the CFTC determined that futures contracts and options on futures contracts that are indirectly linked to the core referenced futures contracts will be subject to the position limits in the same manner as the referenced futures contracts. Futures that settle to the price of a referenced contract but not to the price of a core referenced futures contract would be indirectly linked to the core referenced futures contract as “economically equivalent swaps.”
The Final Rule clarifies the applicable standard for market participants seeking a bona fide hedging exemption from position limits. A bona fide hedging transaction may exceed the federal position limits only if the transaction satisfies each of the following elements:
1.
the position represents a substitute for transactions or positions made or to be made at a later time in a physical marketing channel (temporary substitute test);
2.
the position is economically appropriate to the reduction of price risks in the conduct and management of a commercial enterprise (economically appropriate test); and
3.
the position arises from the potential change in value of actual or anticipated assets, liabilities, or services (change in value requirement).
Notably, this definition tightens the “temporary substitute test” such that a bona fide hedge must be connected to the production, sale, or use of a physical cash-market commodity in all cases, rather than “normally” connected to such activities. As noted above, this adjustment is intended to restrict market participants from treating “risk management” positions as bona fide hedges, except for pass-through or offset positions related to another transaction that is itself a bona fide hedge. The Final Rule also expands the list of enumerated bona fide hedges, which means that any market participant utilizing such a hedge need not notify the CFTC because the enumerated bona fide hedges are self-effectuating. However, a market participant would still need to notify the relevant exchange if executing a bona fide hedge would exceed an exchange set position limit.
In addition, the Final Rule elaborates on how and when a market participant may measure risk on a gross basis rather than on a net basis. Currently, market participants generally may only hedge positions on a net basis. However, the Final Rule permits hedge positions on a gross basis so long as the risk calculations are done consistently over time and not with the intent of evading federal position limits.
It is unknown at this time the effect that such passage, adoption or modification will have, positively or negatively, on our industry or on a Fund. The size or duration of positions available to a Fund may be severely limited. Pursuant to the CFTC’s and the exchanges’ aggregation requirements, all accounts owned or managed by the Sponsor are likely to be combined for speculative position limits purposes. The Funds could be required to liquidate positions it holds in order to comply with such limits or may not be able to fully implement trading instructions generated by its trading models, in order to comply with such limits. Any such liquidation or limited implementation could result in substantial costs to a Fund.
These new regulations and the resulting increased costs and regulatory oversight requirements may result in market participants being required or deciding to limit their trading activities, which could lead to decreased market liquidity and increased market volatility. In addition, transaction costs incurred by market participants are likely to be higher due to the increased costs of compliance with the new regulations. These consequences could adversely affect a Fund’s returns.
Accountability levels differ from position limits in that they do not represent a fixed ceiling, but rather a threshold above which a futures exchange may exercise greater scrutiny and control over an investor’s positions. If a Fund were to exceed an applicable accountability level for investments in futures contracts, the exchange will monitor the Fund’s exposure and may ask for further information on its activities, including the total size of all positions, investment and trading strategy, and the extent of liquidity resources of the Fund. If deemed necessary by the exchange, the Fund could be ordered to reduce its aggregate net position back to the accountability level.
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In addition to position limits and accountability levels, the exchanges set daily price fluctuation limits on futures contracts. The daily price fluctuation limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of futures contracts may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price. Once the daily price fluctuation limit has been reached in a particular futures contract, no trades may be made at a price beyond that limit.
As of May 1, 2014, the CME replaced the fixed price fluctuation limits with variable price limits for corn, soybeans and wheat. The change, which is now effective and is described in the CME Group Special Executive Report S-7038 and can be accessed at http://www.cmegroup.com/tools-information/lookups/advisories/ser/SER-7038.html.
Off Balance Sheet Financing
As of March 31, 2022, neither the Trust nor any of the Funds has any loan guarantees, credit support or other off-balance sheet arrangements of any kind other than agreements entered into in the normal course of business, which may include indemnification provisions relating to certain risks service providers undertake in performing services which are in the best interests of the Funds. While the exposure of each Fund under these indemnification provisions cannot be estimated, they are not expected to have a material impact on the financial positions of each Fund.
Redemption Basket Obligation
Other than as necessary to meet the investment objective of the Funds and pay the contractual obligations described below, the Funds will require liquidity to redeem Redemption Baskets. Each Fund intends to satisfy this obligation through the transfer of cash of the Fund (generated, if necessary, through the sale of short-term Treasury Securities or other cash equivalents) in an amount proportionate to the number of units being redeemed.
Contractual Obligations
The primary contractual obligations of each Fund will be with the Sponsor and certain other service providers. Except for TAGS, which has no management fee, the Sponsor, in return for its services, will be entitled to a management fee calculated as a fixed percentage of each Fund’s NAV, currently 1.00% of its average net assets. Each Fund will also be responsible for all ongoing fees, costs and expenses of its operation, including (i) brokerage and other fees and commissions incurred in connection with the trading activities of the Fund; (ii) expenses incurred in connection with registering additional Shares of the Fund or offering Shares of the Fund; (iii) the routine expenses associated with the preparation and, if required, the printing and mailing of monthly, quarterly, annual and other reports required by applicable U.S. federal and state regulatory authorities, Trust meetings and preparing, printing and mailing proxy statements to Shareholders; (iv) the payment of any distributions related to redemption of Shares; (v) payment for routine services of the Trustee, legal counsel and independent accountants; (vi) payment for routine accounting, bookkeeping, compliance, distribution and solicitation-related services, custodial and transfer agency services, whether performed by an outside service provider or by affiliates of the Sponsor; (vii) postage and insurance; (viii) costs and expenses associated with client relations and services; (ix) costs of preparation of all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns and any taxes payable on the income, assets or operations of the Fund; and (xi) extraordinary expenses (including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto).
While the Sponsor paid the initial registration fees to the SEC, FINRA and any other regulatory agency in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares offered through each Fund’s prospectus, the legal, printing, accounting and other expenses associated with such registrations, and the initial fee of $5,000 for listing the Shares on the NYSE Arca, each Fund will be responsible for any registration fees and related expenses incurred in connection with any future offer and sale of Shares of the Fund in excess of those offered through its prospectus.
Any general expenses of the Trust will be allocated among the Funds and any other series of the Trust as determined by the Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. The Trust is also responsible for extraordinary expenses, including, but not limited to, legal claims and liabilities and litigation costs and any indemnification related thereto. The Trust and/or the Sponsor may be required to indemnify the Trustee, Distributor or Administrator under certain circumstances.
The parties cannot anticipate the amount of payments that will be required under these arrangements for future periods as the NAV and trading levels to meet investment objectives for each Fund will not be known until a future date. These agreements are effective for a specific term agreed upon by the parties with an option to renew, or, in some cases, are in effect for the duration of each Fund’s existence. The parties may terminate these agreements earlier for certain reasons listed in the agreements.
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Benchmark Performance
Investing in Commodity Interests subjects the Funds to the risks of the underlying commodity market, and this could result in substantial fluctuations in the price of each Fund’s Shares. Unlike mutual funds, the Funds currently are not expected to distribute dividends to Shareholders. Although this could change if interest rates continue to rise, and the assets of the Funds increase. Investors may choose to use the Funds as a means of investing indirectly in the underlying commodity, and there are risks involved in such investments. Investors may choose to use the Funds as vehicles to hedge against the risk of loss, and there are risks involved in hedging activities.
During the period from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 the average daily change in the NAV of each Fund was within plus/minus 10 percent of the average daily change in the Benchmark of each Fund, as stated in the applicable prospectus for each Fund.
Frequency Distribution of Premiums and Discounts: NAV versus the 4pm Bid/Ask Midpoint on the NYSE Arca.
CORN Bid / Ask Midpoint in Relation to NAV
Premium / Discount Range
(Basis Points)
Number of Trading Days in the Quarter
04/01 to 06/30/2021
07/01 to 09/30/2021
10/01 to 12/31/2021
1/01 to 3/31/2022
<-200
0
0
0
0
-100 to -199
0
0
0
0
-50 to -99
1
2
0
1
-1 to -49
36
38
43
28
0
2
1
1
2
1 to 49
24
23
20
29
50 to 99
0
0
0
2
100 to 199
0
0
0
0
>200
0
0
0
0
Total
64
64
64
62
The performance data above for the Teucrium Corn Fund represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and value of the Fund’s Shares will fluctuate so that an investor’s Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance may be lower or higher than performance data quoted.
SOYB Bid / Ask Midpoint in Relation to NAV
Premium / Discount Range
(Basis Points)
Number of Trading Days in the Quarter
04/01 to 06/30/2021
07/01 to 09/30/2021
10/01 to 12/31/2021
1/01 to 3/31/2022
<-200
0
0
0
0
-100 to -199
0
0
0
0
-50 to -99
0
0
0
0
-1 to -49
39
39
27
26
0
5
4
9
5
1 to 49
19
21
28
27
50 to 99
0
0
0
3
100 to 199
0
0
0
1
>200
0
0
0
0
Total
63
64
64
62
The performance data above for the Teucrium Soybean Fund represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and value of the Fund’s Shares will fluctuate so that an investor’s Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance may be lower or higher than performance data quoted.
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CANE Bid / Ask Midpoint in Relation to NAV
Premium / Discount Range
(Basis Points)
Number of Trading Days in the Quarter
04/01 to 06/30/2021
07/01 to 09/30/2021
10/01 to 12/31/2021
1/01 to 3/31/2022
<-200
0
0
0
0
-100 to -199
0
0
0
0
-50 to -99
4
3
2
2
-1 to -49
29
31
41
23
0
3
0
1
1
1 to 49
26
29
18
29
50 to 99
1
1
2
7
100 to 199
0
0
0
0
>200
0
0
0
0
Total
63
64
64
62
The performance data above for the Teucrium Sugar Fund represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and value of the Fund’s Shares will fluctuate so that an investor’s Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance may be lower or higher than performance data quoted.
WEAT Bid / Ask Midpoint in Relation to NAV
Premium / Discount Range
(Basis Points)
Number of Trading Days in the Quarter
04/01 to 06/30/2021
07/01 to 09/30/2021
10/01 to 12/31/2021
1/01 to 3/31/2022
<-200
0
0
0
0
-100 to -199
0
0
0
0
-50 to -99
1
2
0
4
-1 to -49
34
43
30
28
0
3
1
1
0
1 to 49
25
18
32
21
50 to 99
0
0
1
4
100 to 199
0
0
0
2
>200
0
0
0
3
Total
63
64
64
62
The performance data above for the Teucrium Wheat Fund represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and value of the Fund’s Shares will fluctuate so that an investor’s Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance may be lower or higher than performance data quoted.
TAGS Bid / Ask Midpoint in Relation to NAV
Premium / Discount Range
(Basis Points)
Number of Trading Days in the Quarter
04/01 to 06/30/2021
07/01 to 09/30/2021
10/01 to 12/31/2021
1/01 to 3/31/2022
<-200
0
0
0
0
-100 to -199
0
0
0
0
-50 to -99
0
3
0
0
-1 to -49
26
39
25
18
0
2
3
2
4
1 to 49
33
19
33
33
50 to 99
2
0
3
3
100 to 199
0
0
1
2
>200
0
0
0
2
Total
63
64
64
62
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The performance data above for the Teucrium Agricultural Fund represents past performance. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and value of the Fund’s Shares will fluctuate so that an investor’s Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance may be lower or higher than performance data quoted.
For the period from August 2, 2012 through April 10, 2018, TAGS had 50,002 shares outstanding; this represents the minimum number of shares and, thus, no shares could be redeemed until additional shares have been created. This has generated a situation, at times, in which the spread between the bid/ask midpoint at 4pm and the NAV falls outside of the “1 to 49” or “-1 to -49” range. The situation does not affect the actual NAV of the Fund.
Description
The above frequency distribution charts present information about the difference between the daily market price for Shares of each Fund and the Fund’s reported Net Asset Value per share. The amount that a Fund’s market price is above the reported NAV is called the premium. The amount that a Fund’s market price is below the reported NAV is called the discount. The market price is determined using the midpoint between the highest bid and the lowest offer on the listing exchange, as of the time that a Fund’s NAV is calculated (usually 4:00 p.m., (EST)). Each value in the tables represents the number of trading days in which a Fund traded within the premium/discount range indicated. The premium or discount is expressed in basis points.
*A unit that is equal to 1/100th of 1% and is used to denote the change in a financial instrument.
NEITHER THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF A FUND NOR THE PRIOR INDEX LEVELS AND CHANGES, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, SHOULD BE TAKEN AS AN INDICATION OF THE FUND’S FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.