South Dakota State University Extension has launched a mobile version of its Basis Report tool, giving producers across the state access to real-time grain basis bids on their phones.

The free app is now available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and covers corn, soybeans, hard red spring wheat and hard red winter wheat. According to SDSU Extension, the app does not require users to sign up and collects no user data.

The Basis Report app was developed to make grain marketing information more accessible for farmers and agribusiness professionals who often make decisions away from the office.

Matthew Elliott, associate professor and SDSU Extension agribusiness specialist, said the mobile platform allows producers to monitor local market conditions and react more quickly to changing opportunities.

The tool provides live grain basis bids from elevators across South Dakota, along with interactive maps and basis trend charts.

Basis is the difference between the local cash price for grain and the nearby futures contract price. It is a key indicator for grain marketing, often reflecting local supply and demand conditions, as well as transportation costs.

A narrowing basis can signal stronger local demand, tighter grain supplies or reduced transportation costs. A widening basis may point to weaker demand, larger supplies or rising transportation expenses.

SDSU said the app is designed to help producers compare basis bids from elevators across the state, track historical trends and make more informed decisions on grain sales and risk management.

The Basis Report app stems from work by SDSU Extension and the Ness School of Management and Economics under a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch project focused on real-time risk monitoring for agricultural producers and agribusinesses.

The university’s ag and land team maintains the platform and plans to continue updating data and expanding its features as part of ongoing efforts to improve transparency and support grain marketing decisions for South Dakota producers.

Source: South Dakota State University, "SDSU Extension makes Basis Report available via app"