Because farmers have been using futures contracts (traded on an exchange) since 1859.
And technically, futures are a more standardized tool than forwards are, hence the talk about futures all the time. [1] For reference, forwards have been used forever, and used for all sorts of commerce. [2]
We take for granted that you can pull out an iPhone and buy your favorite stock in seconds, but for most of history, nobody could even imagine that. That the modern world even exists is because of forwards and futures. The ancient world was able to grow and expand because of forwards.
And technically, futures are a more standardized tool than forwards are, hence the talk about futures all the time. [1] For reference, forwards have been used forever, and used for all sorts of commerce. [2]
We take for granted that you can pull out an iPhone and buy your favorite stock in seconds, but for most of history, nobody could even imagine that. That the modern world even exists is because of forwards and futures. The ancient world was able to grow and expand because of forwards.
[0] - https://www.cftc.gov/About/HistoryoftheCFTC/history_precftc....
[1] - https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/06/forwardsandfutur...
[2] - https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences/applied-and-soc...