US Plains HRW Wheat-Basis bids stay flat, bitter cold threatens crops

CHICAGO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Basis bids for hard red winter wheat remained flat in the southern U.S. Plains on Friday, brokers said, as a major winter storm raised concerns about cold temperatures threatening dormant crops.

• Significant ice was likely to hit the southern Plains, which will likely result in some smothering damage to wheat crops, weather forecaster Vaisala said.

• U.S. wheat export sales for 2025/26 were 618,076 metric tons in the week that ended on January 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Of that total, 222,989 metric tons were hard red winter wheat.

• The K.C. March wheat contract KWH26 closed up 15 cents at $5.40-3/4 a bushel and touched its highest price since January 12.

• Premiums rose by 10 to 30 cents a bushel for wheat with 11.6% through 12.4% protein. Premiums were otherwise unchanged after firming for various protein grades earlier this week. KCBT/SCA

Basis values are quoted against futures in cts/bu:

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