Current Price of Corn Per Bushel: 2026 Update

The current price of corn per bushel is a closely watched figure for farmers, grain buyers, livestock producers, traders, and investors. Corn is traded globally, but U.S. pricing often starts with Chicago Board of Trade futures. The quoted futures price can move throughout the trading session, while the cash price received by a farmer may differ because of local basis, transportation, quality, and delivery timing.

For this 2026 market update, the supplied market data places nearby CBOT corn futures around $5.06 to $5.08 per bushel, while the national cash average is roughly $4.69. A recent farm price received measure is approximately $4.45. These figures represent different parts of the corn market, so they should not be treated as interchangeable prices.

What Is the Current Price of Corn Per Bushel Today?

The current price of corn per bushel depends on which market price you are checking. Recent supplied data shows nearby CBOT futures around $5.06 to $5.08 per bushel, while other market measures are lower. Trading Economics recently reported corn at 502.75 U.S. cents per bushel on September 30, 2026. Because futures prices change during trading, the exact quote can move after publication.

For someone asking what corn costs today, the most useful approach is to identify whether the number represents a futures contract, a national cash average, or a local elevator bid. A futures quote provides a broad market reference, but a farmer selling physical grain usually cares more about the local cash bid after basis and other adjustments. That distinction prevents misleading comparisons.

These numbers can change quickly, so writers should update the table with the latest verified quotes before publication.

How Much Is a Bushel of Corn Worth?

A standard U.S. bushel of shelled corn weighs 56 pounds. This measurement is important because commodity markets generally quote corn in dollars or cents per bushel rather than by weight. If corn futures trade at $5.00 per bushel, the market is essentially assigning a benchmark value of $5.00 to that standard quantity before local adjustments are considered.

The value of physical corn can be different from the exchange quote. A grain elevator might offer a price below or above the futures benchmark depending on local demand, transportation costs, storage availability, quality, and basis. Therefore, the quoted market price is best viewed as a reference point rather than a guaranteed amount every farmer will receive.

Current Price of Corn Per Bushel in the U.S.

U.S. corn prices are influenced by a combination of futures markets and local cash markets. Chicago Board of Trade corn futures provide a widely followed benchmark, with CME Group contracts quoted in U.S. cents per bushel. Physical corn, however, is bought and sold at elevators, ethanol plants, feed mills, export terminals, and other facilities across the country.

Local prices can vary substantially even when futures markets are moving in the same direction. A farmer in Iowa may see a different cash bid from a producer in Illinois, Nebraska, or Indiana. Transportation costs, regional demand, harvest pressure, storage capacity, and local basis all help explain those differences.

Why Local Corn Prices Can Be Different

The basis is one of the most important concepts for understanding local corn prices. It generally represents the difference between a local cash price and the relevant futures price. A strong local demand environment can improve the basis, while transportation challenges or heavy regional supplies can weaken it.

This is why searches for the price of corn per bushel today near me cannot be answered accurately with one national number. A local elevator bid is more useful for a farmer preparing to sell physical grain. Buyers should also consider delivery dates, grain quality, moisture requirements, and any applicable storage or handling charges. markets.businessinsider.com

What Factors Affect the Price of Corn Per Bushel?

Corn prices respond to a constantly changing mix of supply, demand, weather, trade, energy markets, and expectations. Traders often react not only to current conditions but also to what they believe will happen months ahead. That forward-looking behavior can cause futures prices to move before farmers actually harvest or sell their crops.

Some of the biggest influences include:

• Crop production and expected yields
• U.S. planted and harvested acreage
• Weather during planting and growing seasons
• Domestic livestock feed demand
• Ethanol production
• U.S. corn exports
• Global crop conditions
• USDA supply and demand estimates
• Grain inventories
• Transportation and storage costs
• Currency movements
• Energy prices

Weather can be especially powerful. Drought during critical growing stages can reduce yield expectations and support prices, while favorable growing conditions may increase production expectations and put downward pressure on prices.

Price of Corn Per Bushel Chart: How to Read It

A corn price chart helps readers understand how the market has moved over a selected period. A daily chart can show short-term volatility, while weekly and monthly charts provide a broader perspective. Historical charts are particularly useful because they show whether the latest price is relatively high, low, or close to a recent trading range.

When reviewing a chart, always check the contract month and price unit. Corn futures are commonly quoted in cents per bushel, so a quote of 502.75 means $5.0275 per bushel. Looking only at the number without checking the unit can create a significant misunderstanding.

A useful corn chart should ideally show:

• Current or latest price
• Previous closing price
• Daily high and low
• Historical price movement
• Contract month
• Trading volume where available
• Date and time of the quote

Historical Price of Corn Per Bushel

Historical corn prices provide valuable context for today’s market. Long-term datasets contain daily corn prices going back decades, allowing analysts to compare modern prices with previous market cycles. However, historical comparisons should be made carefully because production costs, inflation, crop yields, demand, trade patterns, and agricultural technology have all changed over time.

The 2025 market is particularly relevant when evaluating 2026 conditions. Comparing the two years can reveal whether current prices have strengthened or weakened and whether major changes in supply or demand may explain the movement. A historical chart can also prevent readers from assuming that one day’s price represents the normal long-term value of corn.

Average Price of Corn Per Bushel

The average price of corn per bushel can mean several different things. A monthly average may describe the typical market price during one month, while a marketing-year average covers a much longer period. A local elevator’s average cash bid can also be different from a national average or an official farm price received.

For farmers, averages can help with budgeting and marketing decisions. They can provide a reference for evaluating whether a current offer is attractive compared with recent prices. However, an average should never replace the actual local bid when deciding whether to sell physical grain, because basis and delivery conditions can materially change the final amount received.

Corn Futures Price vs. Cash Price

Corn futures and cash prices are related but serve different purposes. Futures contracts represent standardized agreements traded through an exchange, while cash prices apply to physical grain bought and sold in the real world. Futures markets provide price discovery, whereas cash bids reflect the value of grain at a specific location and under specific delivery conditions.

For example, if a nearby corn futures contract is trading around $5.00 and a local elevator has a basis of negative $0.40, the implied cash price could be around $4.60 before any other adjustments. This simplified example shows why farmers should compare their actual local bid with the futures market rather than assuming the futures quote is their selling price.

How Much Is Corn Worth Per Ton?

Corn is commonly priced per bushel in the United States, but international buyers and commodity users may sometimes think in terms of metric tons. Converting between these units requires knowing the standard weight represented by a bushel.

A standard shelled corn bushel weighs 56 pounds. Since one metric ton equals approximately 2,204.62 pounds, one metric ton of corn contains roughly 39.37 standard bushels. Therefore, a $5.00-per-bushel price would correspond to approximately $196.85 per metric ton before accounting for differences in quality, freight, handling, and market location.

How to Find the Current Price of Corn Per Bushel

Anyone checking today’s market should use a source that clearly identifies the contract, timestamp, and pricing method. CME Group provides official information about corn futures, while agricultural market platforms and government reports can provide additional futures, cash, and farm-price information.

For local selling decisions, farmers should also check nearby grain elevators and agricultural cooperatives. Local cash bids can be much more relevant than a national futures quote because they reflect actual demand and delivery conditions in a particular area.

Before relying on a quoted price, check:

• The date and time of the quote
• Whether the price is delayed
• The futures contract month
• Whether it is a cash or futures price
• The delivery location
• The applicable basis
• Any storage or handling costs

Is the Price of Corn Expected to Rise or Fall?

Predicting corn prices is difficult because several major variables can change at the same time. Weather forecasts, USDA reports, export demand, crop conditions, inventories, ethanol production, and global competition can all alter market expectations. A bullish development in one area can sometimes be offset by bearish news somewhere else.

For 2026, readers should focus on the direction of supply and demand rather than relying on a single price prediction. Strong export demand or declining production estimates could support prices, while large crops, comfortable inventories, or weaker demand could create downward pressure. These are market scenarios rather than guaranteed outcomes.

What Does the Current Corn Price Mean for Farmers and Buyers?

For farmers, the market price is only one part of the profitability equation. Production costs include seed, fertilizer, chemicals, machinery, land, labor, fuel, financing, and other expenses. A corn price that appears attractive may not produce a strong margin if input costs are also elevated.

Buyers face a different calculation. Livestock producers and ethanol facilities need to manage corn costs because the commodity is an important input for their operations. A change of only a few cents per bushel can become meaningful when purchasing hundreds of thousands or millions of bushels.

Conclusion: Understanding the Current Price of Corn Per Bushel

The current price of corn per bushel is best understood as a market reference rather than one universal number. Recent data places nearby CBOT futures around $5.06 to $5.08 per bushel, while the national cash average and farm-level prices are lower. The difference reflects the distinct markets and pricing mechanisms behind each figure.

Weather, production, inventories, exports, ethanol demand, livestock consumption, and local basis can all influence corn values. Anyone buying or selling corn should therefore check the latest futures quote and local cash bid before making a decision. Because agricultural markets can change rapidly, the date and time attached to every price are just as important as the number itself.

Frequently Asked Question

Also Read…

• VZ Business
• Who Owns Wayfair
• Academy Sports + Outdoors
• Zeta Stock