Ever stood by the scale house at the Meredith Road facility in Maple Park, watching the dust settle, and wondered if the number on the screen actually reflects the work you put into that corn? Honestly, it's a grind. Tracking chs elburn cash bids isn't just about watching a ticker move on a screen; it's about understanding the "why" behind the basis and knowing when to pull the trigger on a contract.
Prices aren't just numbers. They're a story of global trade, local logistics, and honestly, a bit of weather-induced luck.
If you're hauling to Newark, Peru, or Morris, you've likely noticed that the spread between the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) and your local elevator can feel like a moving target. As of mid-January 2026, we’re seeing corn basis levels hovering around $-0.25$ to $-0.35$ under the March futures for immediate delivery at many Illinois locations, with some variation depending on how hungry the river terminals are feeling.
The Breakdown: How These Bids Actually Work
You've got your futures price, which is what the big players in Chicago think corn is worth globally. Then you've got the basis. That's the local part. It accounts for the freight, the storage, and how much grain the CHS Elburn system actually needs at that specific moment.
Basically, Cash Price = Futures +/- Basis.
When the basis is "narrow" or "tight," the elevator wants your grain. When it’s "wide," they’ve got plenty, or they’re worried about getting it moved down the Illinois River. Right now, in early 2026, the market is grappling with some interesting dynamics. We’ve seen a decent harvest, but global headwinds—especially in the soybean sector—have kept things a little tighter than some folks would like.
Current Market Reality at CHS Elburn
It’s January 15, 2026. If you’re looking at the board today, corn is sitting in that $4.00 to $4.30 range depending on the delivery month.
For example, at the Meredith Road location in Maple Park, recent bids for #2 Yellow Corn for January delivery have been spotted around $3.90 to $4.00. If you’re looking way ahead to the 2026 harvest (October/November delivery), those bids are creeping up closer to $4.15 or $4.20. It’s a carry market, sort of.
Soybeans are a bit of a different animal. With the export market facing some friction lately, soybean bids at many CHS Illinois locations are sitting around $10.10 to $10.30 for spot delivery. The 2026 "New Crop" bids are showing a slight premium, often trading 10 to 15 cents higher than the current cash price.
- Corn (#2 Yellow): Spot bids around $3.95 - $4.05 (Basis -0.25 to -0.35).
- Soybeans (#2 Yellow): Spot bids around $10.20 - $10.35.
- Wheat: Varies wildly by protein scales. CHS recently updated their protein scales—higher protein can net you a nice premium, while falling below 9% will cost you.
Why Location Changes Everything
You might think a bushel is a bushel, but CHS Elburn operates a diverse network. The bid at the Newark Route 47 facility might not match the bid at the Peru terminal on the river. Why? Because the Peru terminal is likely loading barges. If the river is open and the water levels are good, they can pay more because their transportation costs to the Gulf are lower.
On the flip side, an inland elevator like Malta or Steward has to factor in the cost of trucking that grain to a processor or a terminal. You've gotta do the math on the fuel and the time. Sometimes that extra 10-cent bid 40 miles away isn't actually "better" once you factor in the diesel and the wear on the rig.
Choosing the Right Contract Type
Honestly, just taking the "Daily Price" is the easy way out, but it’s rarely the most profitable. CHS offers a few different ways to skin the cat:
- Priced Contract: The "one and done." You lock in the price and the basis today. Simple.
- Hedge To Arrive (HTA): You lock in the futures price because you like where Chicago is at, but you leave the basis open. This is great if you think the local basis will narrow later in the season.
- Basis Contract: The opposite of an HTA. You lock in the basis but wait for a rally in the futures market to set the final price.
- Minimum Price Contract: This gives you a floor. You’re protected if the market crashes, but you can still participate if there’s a random weather rally in June.
Managing Your Data with MyCHS
In the "old days," you had to call the elevator or wait for the radio report. Now, it’s all in the MyCHS app. It sounds like a sales pitch, but seriously, being able to set "Target Offers" is a game changer. You can tell the system, "If corn hits $4.50, sell 5,000 bushels," and it just happens. You don't have to be staring at your phone while you're in the middle of a field or fixing a planter.
They’ve moved almost all their market alerts to the app now. You can customize it to get a text the second the bids change at your specific primary location.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
The recent CHS fiscal reports for Q1 2026 showed that while the energy side of the business (refined fuels and Cenex premium diesel) is booming, the grain side is fighting some global trade issues. What does that mean for you? It means you should expect volatility.
Margins for soy crushing have been a bit weak lately, which is putting pressure on those local bean bids. However, corn exports have been a bright spot. If you’re sitting on grain in the bin, keep an eye on those river terminal hours. Places like the Peru terminal often have different scales than the country elevators.
Actionable Steps for Your Marketing Plan
Don't just watch the board; have a plan.
- Know your break-even: You can't know if a bid is good if you don't know your cost of production per bushel.
- Check the protein: If you’re hauling wheat, check the latest protein scales. As of January 6, 2026, the scales for Spring Wheat at some CHS locations saw adjustments—don't get surprised at the scale.
- Use Target Offers: Markets move fast. Set a price you can live with and let the system execute it.
- Watch the River: If you’re near the Illinois River locations, barge demand is your best friend. A sudden need for grain at the Gulf can spike your local basis in a matter of hours.
The bottom line is that chs elburn cash bids are a reflection of a massive, moving machine. Whether you’re hauling to Lowder, Shipman, or Carrollton, staying on top of the basis is the difference between just "farming" and running a profitable agribusiness. Keep the app updated, watch the basis trends, and don't be afraid to lock in a profit when the market gives you one.
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To get the most out of your current grain position, you should log into the MyCHS portal today to review your unsettled contracts and set target offers for your remaining on-farm storage. This ensures you're ready to capture any sudden basis narrows that typically occur during the late winter haul-in period.