Illinois Grain Prices Today: Cash Corn, Soybean & Wheat Bids
Today’s Illinois grain prices: the average cash bid for corn, soybeans, wheat and other grains across Illinois, with prices, basis and year-ago bids for each location in the USDA daily report. Illinois is one of the top two corn and soybean states and is home to the Chicago futures market. USDA reports bids from country elevators across the state, plus mills, processors and Illinois River barge terminals.
Last updated: September 29, 2026
Illinois corn bids
| Location | Buyer | Bid range ($/bu) | Average | Basis (¢) | Year ago | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central | Country elevator | $4.82 – $4.92 | $4.87 | -40.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.79 | Current |
| North Central | Country elevator | $4.82 – $4.92 | $4.86 | -40.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.79 | Oct – Nov |
| Southwest | Country elevator | $4.39 – $4.98 | $4.67 | -83.00Z to -24.00Z | $3.83 | Current |
| Southwest | Country elevator | $4.39 – $4.98 | $4.70 | -83.00Z to -24.00Z | $3.83 | Oct – Nov |
| South Central | Country elevator | $4.76 – $4.97 | $4.90 | -46.00Z to -25.00Z | $3.82 | Current |
| South Central | Country elevator | $4.76 – $4.97 | $4.89 | -46.00Z to -25.00Z | $3.81 | Oct – Nov |
| North | Country elevator | $4.75 – $4.92 | $4.85 | -47.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.77 | Current |
| North | Country elevator | $4.75 – $4.92 | $4.86 | -47.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.77 | Oct – Nov |
| West | Country elevator | $4.67 – $4.89 | $4.77 | -55.00Z to -33.00Z | $3.76 | Current |
| West | Country elevator | $4.67 – $4.87 | $4.80 | -55.00Z to -35.00Z | $3.76 | Oct – Nov |
| Wabash | Country elevator | $4.85 – $4.92 | $4.88 | -37.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.83 | Current |
| Wabash | Country elevator | $4.87 | $4.87 | -35.00Z | $3.83 | Oct – Nov |
| Little Egypt | Country elevator | $4.34 – $4.92 | $4.57 | -88.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.82 | Current |
| Little Egypt | Country elevator | $4.34 – $4.92 | $4.57 | -88.00Z to -30.00Z | $3.82 | Oct – Nov |
| Central | Mill / processor | $4.82 – $5.12 | $5.00 | -40.00Z to -10.00Z | $3.97 | Current |
| Chicago | Mill / processor | $5.22 – $5.27 | $5.25 | 0.00Z to 5.00Z | $4.17 | Current |
| Chicago | Mill / processor | $5.17 – $5.22 | $5.20 | -5.00Z to 0.00Z | $4.07 | Oct |
| Mississippi River | Barge Loading Elevators | $4.82 | $4.82 | -40.00Z | $4.17 | Current |
| Mississippi River | Barge Loading Elevators | $4.93 | $4.93 | -29.00Z | $4.09 | Oct – Nov |
| North Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $4.80 – $4.90 | $4.85 | -42.00Z to -32.00Z | $3.89 | Current |
| North Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $4.80 – $4.90 | $4.85 | -42.00Z to -32.00Z | $3.89 | Oct – Nov |
| South Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $4.67 – $5.00 | $4.79 | -55.00Z to -22.00Z | $3.92 | Current |
| South Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $4.67 – $5.00 | $4.79 | -55.00Z to -22.00Z | $3.92 | Oct – Nov |
Illinois soybeans bids
| Location | Buyer | Bid range ($/bu) | Average | Basis (¢) | Year ago | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central | Country elevator | $12.58 – $12.78 | $12.68 | -40.00X to -20.00X | $9.60 | Current |
| North Central | Country elevator | $12.53 – $12.78 | $12.65 | -45.00X to -20.00X | $9.60 | Oct – Nov |
| Southwest | Country elevator | $12.45 – $12.73 | $12.57 | -53.00X to -25.00X | $9.45 | Current |
| Southwest | Country elevator | $12.45 – $12.62 | $12.54 | -53.00X to -36.00X | $9.45 | Oct – Nov |
| South Central | Country elevator | $12.50 – $12.69 | $12.60 | -48.00X to -29.00X | $9.55 | Current |
| South Central | Country elevator | $12.50 – $12.72 | $12.60 | -48.00X to -26.00X | $9.54 | Oct – Nov |
| North | Country elevator | $12.24 – $12.58 | $12.44 | -74.00X to -40.00X | $9.48 | Current |
| North | Country elevator | $12.24 – $12.58 | $12.46 | -74.00X to -40.00X | $9.48 | Oct – Nov |
| West | Country elevator | $12.39 – $12.53 | $12.45 | -59.00X to -45.00X | $9.39 | Current |
| West | Country elevator | $12.39 – $12.58 | $12.47 | -59.00X to -40.00X | $9.42 | Oct – Nov |
| Wabash | Country elevator | $12.63 | $12.63 | -35.00X | $9.53 | Current |
| Wabash | Country elevator | $12.63 | $12.63 | -35.00X | $9.53 | Oct – Nov |
| Little Egypt | Country elevator | $12.40 – $12.95 | $12.61 | -58.00X to -3.00X | $9.41 | Current |
| Little Egypt | Country elevator | $12.40 – $12.98 | $12.62 | -58.00X to 0.00X | $9.41 | Oct – Nov |
| Chicago | Terminal Elevators | $12.73 – $12.78 | $12.75 | -25.00X to -20.00X | $9.84 | Current |
| Chicago | Terminal Elevators | $12.73 – $12.78 | $12.75 | -25.00X to -20.00X | $9.84 | Oct |
| Central | Mill / processor | $12.78 – $13.48 | $12.96 | -20.00X to 50.00X | $9.72 | Current |
| Mississippi River | Barge Loading Elevators | $12.88 | $12.88 | -10.00X | $9.72 | Current |
| Mississippi River | Barge Loading Elevators | $12.93 | $12.93 | -5.00X | $9.69 | Oct – Nov |
| North Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $12.62 – $12.83 | $12.71 | -36.00X to -15.00X | $9.51 | Current |
| North Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $12.62 – $12.78 | $12.68 | -36.00X to -20.00X | $9.51 | Oct – Nov |
| South Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $12.65 – $12.83 | $12.76 | -33.00X to -15.00X | $9.58 | Current |
| South Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $12.65 – $12.83 | $12.76 | -33.00X to -15.00X | $9.58 | Oct – Nov |
Illinois srw wheat bids
| Location | Buyer | Bid range ($/bu) | Average | Basis (¢) | Year ago | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | Country elevator | $6.58 | $6.58 | -55.00N | – | Jun – Jul |
| South Illinois River | Barge Loading Elevators | $6.67 | $6.67 | -45.00N | $5.12 | Jun – Jul |
| Chicago | Terminals/Mills/Processors | $6.68 – $6.88 | $6.78 | -25.00Z to -5.00Z | $4.50 | Current |
Basis codes: Z = December futures, H = March, K = May, N = July, U = September, X = November. “-35Z” means 35 cents under December futures.
Source: USDA AMS Market News, Illinois daily grain bids, report for September 29, 2026. These are reported averages, not live quotes, and your local buyer may pay more or less. This page checks for a new report every weekday evening. Not financial advice.
What Drives Illinois Grain Prices
River access is the big story in Illinois: elevators close to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers often pay a better basis because grain can move cheaply by barge to export terminals on the Gulf.
- Futures: every bid moves with the Chicago (CBOT) corn, soybean and wheat futures, or Kansas City futures for hard red winter wheat.
- Basis: the local premium or discount to futures, shown in cents with a contract code (Z = December, X = November, H = March, K = May, N = July).
- Buyer type: processors, ethanol plants and river terminals can pay more than country elevators because they are the end users or export point.
- Time of year: basis is usually weakest at harvest and firms up in spring and summer.
Compare With Other States
See cash grain bids by state to compare Illinois with neighboring states, or check national corn, soybean and wheat futures prices.
FAQ
What is the price of corn in Illinois today?
See the Illinois cash corn card at the top of this page. It is the average of current-delivery country elevator bids in the latest USDA Illinois grain report, updated every weekday.
Why do Illinois grain prices differ by location?
Each buyer sets its own basis depending on freight costs, local demand, storage space and how much grain it needs. Distance to rivers, rail loaders, ethanol plants and feedlots makes the biggest difference.
What does “-35Z” mean?
It is the basis: 35 cents per bushel below the December (Z) futures price. Add the basis to the futures price to get the cash price.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are public USDA prices for information only. Always get a firm bid from your buyer before selling.