Ever looked at the board in Chicago and then walked into your local elevator only to feel like someone punched you in the gut? You're not alone. Honestly, if you’re checking chs cash bids today, you’ve probably noticed that the gap between those shiny futures numbers and what’s actually landing in your bank account is wider than a North Dakota section.
It's frustrating.
Right now, across the CHS network—from the River terminals to the tiny branch elevators in the Dakotas—the market is sending some pretty mixed signals. While the energy side of the co-op is absolutely killing it thanks to high demand for Cenex premium diesel, the grain side is feeling a bit like a tractor stuck in a low spot.
What’s Driving the Cash Bids Right Now?
Basically, it comes down to basis. Basis is that "magic" number that bridges the gap between the futures price and your local cash price. Currently, many CHS locations are seeing a basis that feels pretty heavy.
Why?
- Elevator Capacity: We had a massive 2025 harvest. Many elevators are still sitting on a mountain of grain. When an elevator is full, they don't want your grain today. So, they drop the cash bid. It’s their way of saying, "Please, keep it in the bin for a while."
- Transportation Logistics: CHS just made a huge move to lease a terminal in Cahokia, Illinois, to strengthen their St. Louis harbor access. That’s great for the long term, but right now, barge and rail costs are still eating into the local bids.
- Global Headwinds: U.S. soybeans are facing some serious competition from South America. This has put a damper on export volumes, which trickles down to your local bid in the Midwest.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
If you check the bids at a place like CHS Southwest Grain or CHS Dakota Plains Ag today, January 17, 2026, you'll see corn hovering around the $3.50 to $3.75 range for immediate delivery at many terminals.
Take the Lemmon terminal, for example. Recent bids there showed corn at $3.59 with a basis of -$0.65. Meanwhile, over in Wisconsin at the Country Visions (CHS partner) locations like Chilton or Valders, you might see slightly better cash bids near $3.72, but you’re still looking at a basis of around -$0.50.
📖 Related: Why Every Business Gets the Do Not Enter Door Sign Wrong
Soybeans are even tougher. Many spots are seeing bids under $10.00, often landing in the $9.50 range. That hurts when your input costs haven't exactly plummeted to match.
The Carry is Where the Money Is
Here is the thing most people miss: the "today" price is often the worst price.
Betsy Jensen, a Farm Business Management Instructor, recently pointed out something crucial. If you’re just looking at the cash bid for immediate delivery, you’re playing a losing game. There is a significant "carry" in the market right now.
What does that mean for you?
It means the market is literally offering to pay you to wait. If you can keep that corn or wheat in the bin until March or even July, the bids are often 20 to 40 cents higher. For instance, at some CHS locations, while the January bid for corn is $3.54, the March bid jumps to $3.61, and new crop bids for late 2026 are already pushing past $4.00.
Managing the Risk
CHS Hedging is always talking about floor prices. Honestly, in a market like this, "hope" isn't a strategy.
If you're staring at chs cash bids today and feeling icky about the numbers, it might be time to look at Price Later (PL) contracts or basis-fixed contracts. Just be careful—storage rates are shifting. CHS recently adjusted some open storage rates to $0.06 per bushel per month.
You've got to do the math. Does the 15-cent carry from January to May cover the 24 cents you’ll pay in storage?
📖 Related: Currency Ghana to USD: Why the Cedi is Catching Everyone by Surprise
Probably not.
This is why having your own on-farm storage is such a game-changer in years like 2026. It gives you the leverage to tell the elevator "no" when the basis is wide and wait for those river terminals to get hungry again.
What to Watch in the Coming Weeks
- South American Weather: If Brazil hits a dry spell, those soybean bids will jump fast.
- The St. Louis Expansion: Watch how the new Cahokia facility impacts flow. More efficiency usually means a tighter basis for the farmers feeding that terminal.
- Interest Rates: They affect your cost of carry. If you're borrowing money against your grain, sitting on it becomes a lot more expensive.
Actionable Steps for Your Grain Marketing
Don't just refresh the bid page and grumble.
First, get on the text alert list for your specific CHS location. Bids can change at 1:15 PM when the board closes, and sometimes there are "quick ship" premiums that only last a few hours.
Second, talk to your local merchandiser about "targets." Don't wait for the price to hit $4.00 to call them. Put a firm offer in the system. Markets often spike for five minutes while you're out in the shop, and a resting order is the only way to catch it.
Finally, look at your "new crop" 2026 bids. With the current volatility, locking in a small percentage of your expected 2026 crop at the $4.00+ corn levels we're seeing in some forward bids might be the smartest move you make all winter.
Keep an eye on the protein scales for wheat too. CHS Southwest Grain recently adjusted their protein scales for Spring Wheat—0.08 cents for every fifth of a point above 14%. If you've got the high-protein stuff, don't let it go for the base cash bid. Sort it, test it, and get paid for it.