CBOT · CME Group · Nearby Dec '26 · Refreshed in session
$4.81
$ / bushel
▼ −1¾¢ (−0.36%)
Loading prices
Dec new crop:
Nearby Dec '26 corn closed near $4.81 · as of Oct 14.
Last close · as of Oct 14 · Yahoo Finance, delayed (not CME settlements) · quotes above refresh every 15 minutes in session
Contract
Close
Change
52-wk range
Nearby Dec '26
$4.81
−1¾¢ (−0.36%)
$4.25¾–$5.49¾
Corn futures are CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) contracts that set the benchmark price per bushel of corn.
New crop, basis and what moves corn
The front-month contract tracks nearest delivery; December corn (ZCZ) is the new-crop harvest benchmark producers use to forward-price grain. Your local cash price equals futures plus or minus basis. Corn prices move mainly on the monthly USDA WASDE report, growing-season weather, ethanol demand, and exports. See what’s priced in ahead of each report. Live CBOT prices below are refreshed every 15 minutes during trading hours. Reload for the latest. Compare with live soybean and wheat futures.
Typical $4.00 to $5.50/bu, an AGSIST rule of thumb. Varies widely by farm.
Method · Nov soybeans divided by Dec corn, both live. The 2.4 and 2.6 lines are AGSIST rules of thumb for where acres usually tilt, not a USDA or university threshold; your rotation, costs and rent decide. · Reviewed by Sigurd Lindquist, Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)
Corn price vs. typical breakeven
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Above $5.50 · Strong margins for most
$4.75–$5.50 · Profitable for most operations
$4.00–$4.75 · Marginal; tight on land & fixed costs
Method · The live nearby corn price against four bands. The $4.00, $4.75 and $5.50 lines are AGSIST rules of thumb for a Corn Belt full-cost breakeven (land, machinery and inputs), not a USDA or university figure; your own costs decide. · Reviewed by Sigurd Lindquist, Certified Crop Adviser (CCA)
Corn seasonal price tendencyCurrent month highlighted · hover for value
Weekly closes by calendar month, scaled 0–100 (0 = weakest month, 100 = strongest). Continuous front-month, not roll-adjusted, over a short window: a description of these years, not a forecast. Major USDA reports and weather events override any seasonal pattern.
Contract Specs
ExchangeCBOT / CME Group
Contract Size5,000 bushels
Tick Size¼¢/bu ($12.50/contract)
SymbolZC
Active MonthsMar, May, Jul, Sep, Dec
Key Reports
WASDEMonthly (~10th) · highest impact
Crop ProgressWeekly Mon 4pm ET (Apr–Nov)
Prospective PlantingsLate March
Export SalesThu 7:30am CT
Using these prices
Cash priceFutures + local basis
Corn/bean ratioNov beans ÷ Dec corn
New cropDec = harvest benchmark
Typical breakeven$4.00–$5.50/bu, an AGSIST rule of thumb: varies widely by farm
US corn use
Feed & residuallargest use (USDA WASDE)
Ethanolsecond-largest use
Exportsthird-largest use
Top buyersMexico, Japan, Colombia, South Korea (2024/25, USDA)
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, 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, November bean futures divided by December corn futures, is a rough guide to which crop pays better. Below 2.4:1 signals corn pays better per acre; above 2.6:1 shifts the math toward soybeans. The March Prospective Plantings report is a USDA survey of what farmers say they will plant, so it shows where growers landed, not a forecast built from the ratio. Check it against your own breakeven and rotation before you change acres.
What moves corn prices
Corn futures move on: (1) USDA WASDE reports: monthly supply/demand estimates; a surprise can move corn hard in minutes; (2) weather: drought or delayed planting builds substantial risk premium; (3) ethanol demand: a top-two domestic use of the crop, tied to energy and RFS policy; (4) export sales: weekly USDA data tracks sales to Mexico, Japan, Colombia, South Korea and the rest; and (5) US Dollar Index: a stronger dollar makes US corn more expensive on world markets and harder to sell abroad.
Corn futures: common questions
What is the corn futures price today?
The live price above shows the nearest CBOT corn futures contract, refreshed every 15 minutes during trading hours. Reload for the latest. The "Today's market read" block puts price position, the corn/bean ratio, the season and the dollar into one short read, updated with every price refresh.
What does December corn futures mean and why does it matter?
December corn (ZCZ) is the new-crop harvest benchmark, 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, November bean futures divided by December corn futures, compares relative revenue per acre between the two crops. Below 2.4:1 historically favors corn; above 2.6:1 favors beans; 2.4–2.6 is neutral. The live ratio is in the Key Ratios widget above. Check it against your own breakeven and rotation before you change acres.
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, local basis already included.
How does ethanol demand affect corn prices?
Ethanol is one of the two largest domestic uses of US corn, alongside feed. 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 (waiver volumes, small refinery exemptions) feed straight into corn prices.
When is corn typically cheapest, and most expensive?
The common rule of thumb is that corn is cheapest around harvest, when supply is greatest, and firmest from late winter into early summer, when old-crop stocks tighten and new-crop weather risk builds a premium. The seasonal chart above shows what weekly closes actually did by month over a short window of recent years, with the current month highlighted: where it disagrees with the rule of thumb, it is showing what the closes did. A window this short can be moved by one drought or one crash, so it describes those years and does not forecast this one. Major events (drought, WASDE surprise, trade policy) 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. A surprise in ending stocks can move corn hard in minutes. The March Prospective Plantings and June Acreage reports also routinely surprise markets. Weekly Crop Progress (Monday 4:00 p.m. ET) 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: overnight session 7:00 PM to 7:45 AM CT, day session 8:30 AM to 1:20 PM CT. AGSIST prices are refreshed every 15 minutes during trading hours. Reload for the latest. Weekend prices show the last Yahoo Finance quote from Friday’s session (delayed; not the official CME settlement) until Monday trading resumes.
Prices from Yahoo Finance via GitHub Actions (delayed ~15 min). Chart shows Capital.com CORN CFD which tracks CBOT corn futures; for exact ZC1! data use the TradingView link. Not financial advice. Verify with your elevator or broker before making marketing decisions.