SDSU Launches Mobile App for Real-Time Grain Basis Bids

South Dakota State University Extension has launched a mobile app to provide farmers and agricultural stakeholders with real-time grain basis bids from elevators across South Dakota. The Basis Report app, available for free on Apple App Store and Google Play, covers corn, soybeans, hard red spring wheat, and hard red winter wheat.

The app is private and collects zero user data, requiring no sign-up or registration for use. According to Matthew Elliott, associate professor and SDSU Extension Agribusiness Specialist, the basis represents the difference between the cash price paid for grain locally and the nearby futures price.

Elliott explained that variations in basis can be attributed to shifts in local supply and demand or changes in transportation costs. The app features live grain basis bids, interactive maps, and basis trend charts, allowing users to track historical trends and time their sales more strategically.

The Basis Report app is a result of SDSU Extension's work supported by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch project SD00H858-26), focused on real-time risk monitoring for ag producers and agribusinesses. The team continues to evolve the app, consistently updating basis figures and enhancing functionality.