Corn Futures Prices Today
CBOT \u00b7 CME Group \u00b7 ZC=F \u00b7 Updated every 30 min
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$ / bushel
Loading prices\u2026
\U0001f9ed Today's Market Read
Analyzing current prices\u2026
\U0001f4c5 Next WASDE: \u2014
Full USDA Calendar \u2192
Front Month (ZC)
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$/bu
Dec New Crop (ZCZ)
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$/bu
Soybeans (ZS)
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$/bu
Wheat (ZW)
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$/bu
Crude Oil (CL)
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$/bbl
Dollar Index (DX)
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DXY
52-Week Range \u2014 Corn Front Month
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\U0001f33d/\U0001fad8 Corn\u00b7Bean Planting Ratio
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\u2190 Corn
<2.4:1 Neutral
2.4\u20132.6 Beans
>2.6:1
<2.4:1 Neutral
2.4\u20132.6 Beans
>2.6:1
Nov Beans \u00f7 Dec Corn \u00b7 live from futures
Planting mix signal \u00b7 Build your full breakeven \u2192
\U0001f4b0 Corn Price vs. Typical Breakeven
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Above $5.50 \u00b7 Strong margins for most
$4.75\u2013$5.50 \u00b7 Profitable for most operations
$4.00\u2013$4.75 \u00b7 Marginal; tight on land & fixed costs
Below $4.00 \u00b7 Below full cost for most
Typical range only \u00b7 Use your actual costs \u2192
\U0001f4c8 Corn Front Month \u2014 Interactive Chart
Chart by TradingView
\U0001f4c5 Corn Seasonal Price Tendency
Historical pattern \u00b7 current month highlighted \u00b7 hover for context
Corn prices typically peak May\u2013Jun (weather & pollination risk premium) and bottom in Oct (harvest pressure). Seasonal tendencies are guides \u2014 major USDA reports and weather events override them in any given year.
\U0001f4cb Contract Specs
ExchangeCBOT / CME Group
Contract Size5,000 bushels
Tick Size\u00bc\u00a2/bu ($12.50/contract)
SymbolZC
Active MonthsMar, May, Jul, Sep, Dec
\U0001f4c5 Key Reports
WASDEMonthly (~10th) \u00b7 highest impact
Crop ProgressWeekly Mon 4pm (Apr\u2013Nov)
Prospective PlantingsLate March
Export SalesThu 7:30am CT
\U0001f4a1 Using These Prices
Cash priceFutures + local basis
Corn/bean ratioNov beans \u00f7 Dec corn
New cropDec = harvest benchmark
Typical breakeven$4.00\u2013$5.50/bu avg
\U0001f30d US Corn Use
Ethanol~38% of crop
Feed & residual~36% of crop
Exports~14% of crop
Top buyersMexico, Japan, China
\U0001f4da Understanding Corn Futures
How CBOT Corn Futures Work
CBOT corn futures (ZC) represent 5,000 bushels of No. 2 Yellow corn. Each one-cent price move equals $50 per contract. Farmers use futures to hedge production risk \u2014 locking in prices before the crop is in the bin. The December contract is the new-crop harvest benchmark and the primary tool for forward pricing during winter and spring planning. Nearby contracts reflect current old-crop market value.
Reading the Corn/Bean Planting Ratio
The corn/soybean ratio \u2014 November bean futures divided by December corn futures \u2014 is the row crop producer's planting decision compass. Below 2.4:1 signals corn pays better per acre; above 2.6:1 shifts the math toward soybeans. USDA tracks this ratio when forecasting spring planted acres in the March Prospective Plantings report. Always pair it with your local breakeven and rotation requirements \u2014 the ratio is a directional guide, not the full story.
Five Forces That Move Corn Prices
Corn futures move on: (1) USDA WASDE reports \u2014 monthly supply/demand estimates that can move markets 20+ cents on a surprise; (2) weather \u2014 drought or delayed planting builds substantial risk premium; (3) ethanol demand \u2014 ~38% of the crop, tied to energy and RFS policy; (4) export sales \u2014 weekly USDA data tracks flows to Mexico, Japan, and China; and (5) US Dollar Index \u2014 a stronger dollar makes US corn more expensive on world markets and directly pressures export competitiveness.
\u2753 Corn Futures \u2014 Common Questions
What is the corn futures price today?
The live price above shows the CBOT front-month corn futures contract (ZC), refreshed every 30 minutes. The "Today's Market Read" block synthesizes price position, the corn/bean ratio signal, seasonal context, and dollar impact into a single oriented paragraph \u2014 updated with every price refresh. No other free page does this.
What does December corn futures mean and why does it matter?
December corn (ZCZ) is the new-crop harvest benchmark \u2014 the market's best estimate of what corn will be worth when it comes off the combine. Row crop producers use December corn to forward price grain before planting and throughout the growing season. A December corn price above your full cost of production is a forward-selling opportunity; below it means current prices don't cover this year's expenses at expected yields.
What is the corn/soybean ratio and how do I use it for planting?
The corn/bean ratio \u2014 November bean futures divided by December corn futures \u2014 compares relative revenue per acre between the two crops. Below 2.4:1 historically favors corn; above 2.6:1 favors beans; 2.4\u20132.6 is neutral. The live ratio is in the Key Ratios widget above. Always pair it with your local breakeven and rotation requirements \u2014 the ratio is a starting point, not the final decision.
How is cash corn price different from CBOT futures?
Cash corn at your local elevator equals CBOT futures plus or minus local basis. Basis reflects transportation costs to export terminals, local supply and demand, and elevator margins. It's typically negative (cash below futures) in the upper Midwest due to freight. Use AGSIST's Cash Bids page to see your elevator's posted price \u2014 local basis already included.
How does ethanol demand affect corn prices?
Ethanol production consumes roughly 38% of the US corn crop annually \u2014 the single largest domestic use category. When ethanol margins are strong, processors bid aggressively for corn, supporting nearby futures. The EPA's Renewable Fuel Standard creates baseline blending demand. Policy changes \u2014 waiver volumes, small refinery exemptions \u2014 directly ripple into corn price direction and belong on every corn producer's radar.
When is corn typically cheapest \u2014 and most expensive?
Corn historically bottoms at and after harvest (October\u2013November) when supply is greatest. Prices tend to rally from late winter through June as old-crop stocks tighten and new-crop weather uncertainty builds a risk premium. The seasonal chart above illustrates these historical tendencies with the current month highlighted in gold. Major events \u2014 drought, WASDE surprise, trade policy \u2014 override seasonal norms in any given year.
What USDA reports move corn prices the most?
The USDA WASDE (World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates), released monthly around the 10th, is the single most market-moving report for corn. Surprise changes to ending stocks can move corn 15\u201325 cents in minutes. The March Prospective Plantings and June Acreage reports also routinely surprise markets. Weekly Crop Progress (Monday 4pm CT) and Export Sales (Thursday 7:30am CT) provide ongoing signals through the season. See AGSIST's USDA Calendar for all upcoming dates.
When is CBOT corn open for trading?
CBOT corn trades electronically Sunday through Friday \u2014 overnight session 7:00 PM to 7:45 AM CT, day session 8:30 AM to 1:20 PM CT. AGSIST refreshes prices every 30 minutes on weekdays. Weekend prices reflect the last published Friday settlement until Monday trading resumes.
Related Tools
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Soybean Futures
Corn/bean ratio
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Wheat Futures
Feed grain spread
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Cash Bids Near Me
Local elevator prices
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Break-Even Calc
Is this profitable?
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USDA Calendar
Next report date
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Fast Facts
N rates, P&K, GDU
Prices from Yahoo Finance via GitHub Actions (delayed ~15 min). Not financial advice. Verify with your elevator or broker before making marketing decisions.