November 20, 2020

Welcome to our Strategic Crop Marketing Video Series

by Nathanael Thompson and James Mintert

We’ve recorded a series of short videos to help you improve your crop marketing skills. The first two videos review the importance of understanding basis when marketing crops and how to use historical data to forecast basis. Subsequent videos detail how storage hedging can work to your advantage, provide a comparison of historical returns to both unpriced storage and storage returns and discuss using knowledge of seasonal patterns in corn futures prices and corn futures price spreads to improve returns.

ARTICLES WITHIN PUBLICATION:

TAGS:

basis

TEAM LINKS:

James Mintert

Nathanael Thompson

RELATED RESOURCES

Corn & Soybean Grain Markets: Basis Is Shifting Across Cash Markets

April 29, 2026

Corn and soybean basis strengthened across the Eastern Corn Belt in April, with gains exceeding historical trends in several regions. However, persistent regional differences remain, particularly between stronger Ohio basis levels and weaker Iowa conditions. These shifts—especially along the Ohio River—highlight changing cash market signals heading into May.

Broad Strengthening Across the Eastern Corn Belt

April 17, 2026

Corn and soybean basis strengthened faster than expected across the Eastern Corn Belt, with Ohio and Indiana showing standout gains. Historical trends suggest volatility ahead—making it critical for producers to monitor local basis closely.

Indiana and Ohio Set the Benchmark for Soybean and Corn Basis, Respectively

March 13, 2026

Corn basis across the Eastern Corn Belt has remained relatively stable compared to last month, but regional differences remain significant. Ohio currently sets the benchmark for corn basis, with positive levels in parts of the state, while Iowa continues to post the weakest levels. Soybean basis has been more volatile, with strengthening through late February followed by recent declines across most districts. Indiana continues to lead the region with the strongest soybean basis levels. While historical patterns suggest basis should strengthen into spring, recent week-to-week volatility highlights the importance of monitoring local markets closely. Producers can track conditions using Purdue’s Crop Basis Tool.

UPCOMING EVENTS

We are taking a short break, but please plan to join us at one of our future programs that is a little farther in the future.

POPULAR RESOURCES

2026 Crop Cost and Return Guide

September 16, 2025

The 2026 Purdue Crop Cost and Return Guide provides estimated costs and net returns for planting, growing, and harvesting corn, soybeans, and wheat in the upcoming year. Cost and return information presents information for low, average, and high productivity soils. Early projections point to slightly higher breakeven prices.

2025 Farmland Values & Market Trends

September 9, 2025

Purdue ag economists Todd Kuethe and Michael Langemeier as they discuss Indiana farmland values on this, the first of two episodes reviewing the 2025 Purdue Farmland Values and Cash Rental Rates survey results. The survey shows Indiana land prices continue to rise and are anticipated to continue a modest increase for the rest of 2025 for most of the state.

Farmland Prices Increase Despite Downward Pressure, Purdue Ag Econ Report August 2025

August 19, 2025

Indiana farmland prices have continued the trend of record highs in 2025, according to the latest Purdue Farmland Value and Cash Rents Survey results. The average price of top-quality farmland reached $14,826 per acre, a 3.0% increase from June 2024. Statewide, cash rents increased from 1.5 to 1.7% for poor-, average-, and top-quality land.

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