BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce that the SDSU Basis Report web tool is now also available as a mobile app.
The app is free on the Apple App and Google Play stores, covering corn, soybeans, hard red spring wheat and hard red winter wheat. It is private, and collects zero user data, with no sign-up required for use.
Matthew Elliott, associate professor and SDSU Extension Agribusiness Specialist, said it provides real-time grain basis bids from elevators across South Dakota, giving farmers and agricultural stakeholders access to the information they need wherever they are.
“We built the Basis Report as an app because grain marketing decisions don't happen at a desk — they happen in the cab of a truck, at the elevator, or standing in the field,” said Elliott. “Putting real-time broad basis bids in producers' pockets means they can act on local market signals the moment they matter, instead of searching multiple websites or apps."
Basis represents the difference between the cash price paid for grain locally and the nearby futures price. Variations in basis can be attributed to shifts in local supply and demand or changes in transportation costs. A narrowing basis often signals increased local demand, reduced supply, or lower transportation costs, while a widening basis may reflect diminished demand, increased supply, or higher transportation costs.
The app features live grain basis bids, interactive maps and basis trend charts. Elliott said basis is one of the most important yet overlooked pieces of the grain marketing puzzle. Understanding basis is essential for managing price risk and timing grain sales.
“This app lets a South Dakota producer instantly compare cash basis bids from elevators across the state, see how their local market stacks up, and track historical trends to time their sales more strategically,” Elliott said. “That kind of transparency helps farmers manage price risk and capture more value for the crop they've worked all year to grow."
The Basis Report app grew out of SDSU Extension and Ness School of Management and Economics work supported by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Hatch project SD00H858-26), focused on real-time risk monitoring for ag producers and agribusinesses.
It is maintained by the SDSU ag/land team and continues to evolve, consistently updating basis figures and enhancing functionality to better serve South Dakota farmers and agricultural stakeholders in managing basis risk and understanding the broader market landscape.
“It's a living tool. We will continuously make updates to the data and add functionality to better serve South Dakota's ag community,” Elliott said.
For more information, visit the SDSU Extension Basis Report mobile app page.
