Cash Markets Show Mixed Trends Across Agricultural Commodities
The cash markets for various agricultural commodities showed mixed trends as of July 29, 2026. The national average corn basis slipped 2 1/2 cents to 7 1/2 cents above September futures, while the national cash corn index price fell 15 1/2 cents from last Wednesday to $4.56 1/2. This put the national basis weaker than its three-year average of 25 1/4 cents above futures.
The soybean market fared better, with the national average basis firming 3 1/2 cents from last week to 19 1/2 cents above August futures. However, the national cash soybean index price dropped 52 1/4 cents to $11.96 1/4, indicating a decline in overall prices.
The wheat market saw changes in both soft red winter and hard red winter (SRW) and HRW) wheat bases. The SRW basis widened 2 1/4 cents to 34 3/4 below September futures, while the average cash price fell 47 1/2 cents to $6.26. In contrast, the HRW basis remained unchanged at 52 cents below September futures, with an average cash price decrease of 38 cents to $6.73 3/4.
Cotton prices were also affected, with a seven-market average price of 73.39 cents last week, down from 73.97 cents the previous week. Basis remained unchanged at 521 basis points under the October contract and is slightly firmer than the three-year average of 523 points under the contract.