US Plains HRW Wheat-Basis bids flat-mixed, data shows drought eased

ReutersJan 15, 2026 4:12 PM

CHICAGO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Basis bids for hard red winter (HRW) wheat were steady to mixed at grain elevators in the southern U.S. Plains on Thursday as farmer selling remained slow, dealers said.

Drought eased over the past week in the Plains, according to U.S. Drought Monitor data.
In Kansas, about 15% of the state was experiencing abnormally dry conditions as of January 13, down from about 32% a week earlier, the data show. Dryness was affecting 7% of the state's winter wheat crop, down from 13% a week ago.
Dealers said they were waiting until spring to worry about whether the crop was receiving enough moisture. Wheat crops are resilient and do not need a lot of moisture in the winter, one dealer said.
K.C. March HRW wheat futures KWH26 were up 1/2 cent at $5.22-3/4 per bushel by 9:55 a.m. CST (1555 GMT) after falling on Wednesday to the lowest price since January 5.
Protein premiums for railcar HRW wheat to and through Kansas City were unchanged on Wednesday, according to the latest data. KCBT/SCA

Basis values are quoted against futures in cts/bu:

	Current			Previous			Cash
	basis			basis			price
KANSAS
Wichita	-60	+	H	-60	+	H	$4.63
Newton	-85	+	H	-85	+	H	$4.38
Goodland	-90	+	H	-90	+	H	$4.33

TEXAS
Gulf track*	+125	+	H	+125	+	H	$6.48
Galveston	+100	+	H	+100	+	H	$6.23

OKLAHOMA
Enid	-40	+	H	-30	+	H	$4.83
Catoosa	+5	+	H	-20	+	H	$5.28

NOTES:

H = March, K = May, N = July, U = September

Z = December; UNQ = Unquoted bids

0 = Sp Option price; NC = No comparison

= No. 1 12% hard winter wheat, rail bids

= Ordinary protein, rail bids

LINKS:

K.C. HRW wheat protein scales KCBT/SCA

U.S. weekly wheat crop progress US/WHE

U.S. forward basis WHEAT/BASIS

U.S. Midwest cash grain PM GRA/PM

U.S. FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F

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