The basis lows were printed in the last week of September for both corn and soybeans on average throughout the nation. In just the last week, the national average basis for soybeans improved nearly a cent while corn basis continued climbing, up another 1 1/3 cents on the week.  Despite the steady basis improvements observed since the harvest low, soybeans has not experienced the violent snapback in basis that it enjoyed during the same period last year. In 2011 the national soybean basis average improved 14 cents in the two weeks following the harvest low. This year, soybeans have improved a lackluster 3 ½ cents during the same period. Across the United States The slow basis improvement seen in soybeans this year could be caused...

An early grain harvest this year has meant an earlier peak in barge rates. Over the past few days barge rates have begun to fall suggesting that the trend may be set for barge rates to continue the post-harvest harvest seasonal slide. Although average corn and soybean basis this week was up only modestly, areas around the River system posted solid gains thanks to 5 to 10 cent a bushel declines in barge rates. For corn, basis levels were mostly unchanged through the heart of the Cornbelt, but Eastern areas saw more weakness as harvest hits full swing. Areas along the River system saw higher basis with average corn basis at river terminals jumping 4 cents for the week even though the Gulf basis was off 1 cent.  At ethanol plants, basis...

Grain harvest continued its quick progression this week, but some areas of the country saw unusually strong upside basis moves. Overall, however, the US average corn basis was mostly unchanged while soybeans were off 1 cent over the past week. Impressive gains at some key end users were noted for corn this week in NE, IA & IL, but overall ethanol plants as a group were off -0.7 cents for the week. River terminals were mostly higher propelled by strength out of the Gulf and a modest decline in barge rates on the Southern Mississippi River region, although more northern areas of the Mississippi and Ohio saw stronger barge rates and weakening basis.    In the bean market, basis levels continued to fall overall but pockets of strength...

Record-breaking high temperatures, widespread drought, tropical storms and Hurricane Isaac plagued the summer of 2012, resulting in a significant rise in corn prices, major waterway closures and halted exports. The global average temperature for August 2012 was the fourth warmest since record keeping began in 1880, according to Bryce Anderson , DTN Ag meteorologist. Changes in temperature, amount of carbon dioxide, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather can have significant impacts on crop yields , according to the EPA. Some crops grow faster in warmer conditions; however, for some crops, such as grains, faster growth shortens the amount of time seeds have to mature, as was the case this year. Even as temperatures cooled...