Basis data for a number of commodities have been added to our website as a service to people who have taken our futures course, and for others who might find the information useful. 

Data for corn, soybeans, canola, hogs and beef cattle are updated weekly and posted monthly.

June 24, 2010

Corn
Soy
Canola
Hogs
Cattle

June 1, 2010

Corn
Soy
Canola
Hogs
Cattle

May 5, 2010

Corn
Soy
Canola
Hogs
Cattle


March 25, 2010

Corn - click here
Soy - click here
Canola - click here
Hogs - click here 
Cattle - click here

Basis is the difference between the local cash price and nearby futures prices. The cash and futures prices must be expressed in the same currency (either USD or CAD). For corn and soybean, the local prices are converted to USD and basis is in US funds.  We did this at the request of several people in the grain trade.  For livestock, futures prices are converted to CAD from USD and basis is in CAD and Canadian units because that is the common practice in these industries. Canola futures are traded in Canada in CAD

Nearby futures are always the contract that matures the soonest after the current month – basis is never calculated from a contract that is in delivery. So, for corn basis in September – November is calculated from the December contract, basis in December – February is calculated from the March contract, etc.

Geographic point and position are important to understand.  Basis for corn is calculated using the Ontario Track price quote on DTN’s Ontario corn price table.  This is a price at which end users can buy carload lots loaded out of an elevator facility in western Ontario.  Elevator bids to farmers appear to be typically $.25 - $.35/bu lower. For soybeans, it is an elevator bid basis in Middlesex County.  For canola, it is elevator bids at Saskatoon.  For hogs, it is Ontario Pork’s 100 index pool price.  For beef cattle, it is the Canfax quote for Alberta.

For all commodities, except beef cattle, the charts represent the average basis for each week over the past five years, each of the past two years and the current year to date.  You will also note that we have included tables with the actual values of the average for the past five years, as well as the high and low during that period.  We’ve added the past two years to the charts and the range to the tables so you will have some idea of the historical range. 

If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Larry Martin:

larryATgeorgemorris.org or 519-822-3929, ext. 208

Sources of data: