US Cash Grains-Corn basis bids steady-higher as futures slide

CHICAGO, March 18 (Reuters) - Spot basis bids for corn were steady to higher at interior elevators, ethanol plants and other processors around the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday as futures prices declined and farmer selling remained muted, dealers said.

Soybean spot basis bids were unchanged at elevators and mostly steady to firm at processing plants.

Farmers have largely halted new spot sales of corn and soy in recent weeks due to easing futures prices and as many growers are focused on spring planting preparations instead.

A corn processor in Blair, Nebraska, raised its spot basis bid by 3 cents a bushel late on Monday, while elevators in Cincinnati and in Lincoln, Nebraska, lifted their spot bids by 2 and 5 cents, respectively, on Tuesday.

A soybean processor in Decatur, Indiana, raised its spot bid by 3 cents a bushel on Tuesday.

Chicago Board of Trade May corn futures CK25 were down 1-1/2 cents at $4.59-1/2 per bushel near midday on Tuesday. CBOT May soybeans SK25 were up 1/2 cent at $10.15-3/4 a bushel, while deferred-month contracts were down as much as 3-1/2 cents.

Basis values are quoted against CBOT futures in cts/bu:

NOTE: 0 = Option price, UNC = Unchanged, UNQ = Unquoted

NC = Not comparable, DP = Delayed price, N/A = Not available,

F = January, H = March, K = May, N = July
Q = August, U = September, X = November, Z = December

--------------------------------------------------------

LINKS: 0#USCSHGRN-PM

For U.S. forward basis spreadsheets, please click:

CORN/BASIS, SOYA/BASIS, WHEAT/BASIS, MILO/BASIS

- CBOT corn report COR/

- CBOT soybean report SOY/C

- CBOT wheat report WHE/C

- U.S. grain barge freight values BG/US

- U.S. Midwest cash grain PM GRA/PM

- U.S. CIF/FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F