URBANDALE, Iowa – A study by the Soy Transportation Coalition highlights the potential loss of revenue for soybean farmers across the country. The study, funded by the soybean checkoff program, identifies how the soybean basis has gradually, yet consistently, become wider and more negative during the last five years.
Soybean basis is the difference between the local cash price and the nearby futures price on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).
The difference between the local cash price and futures price is due to transportation costs, storage costs, interest accrued, local supply and demand conditions and other factors.
Smaller share. “Soybean basis has been widening in recent years, meaning that many producers are getting a smaller share of the CBOT price,” said Mark Newman, president of Market Solutions LLC. He conducted the analysis of soybean basis for the Soy Transportation Coalition.
“Soybean prices are currently relatively high, so many producers may not notice the money they are losing to increased basis. If and when overall price levels fall, there is no reason to think that basis will narrow, especially if the widening is because transportation costs have increased,” said Newman.
The Soy Transportation Coalition report showed that soybean basis differed by as much as $1.80 per bushel among the states studied.
For example, the cash price at local elevators in North Dakota and South Dakota were some of the lowest paid to growers.
Negative growth. “This study gives us a better understanding of the negative growth in basis levels. The next step will be to identify the degree to which transportation inefficiencies are a contributing factor,” said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.
“Our transportation system in this country should make it easier for soybean producers to be profitable; it should not be an obstacle. Our goal is to help ensure that farmers receive as much value for their soybeans as possible,” said Steenhoek.
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