Soybean Prices Today

Soybean futures are the CBOT exchange price (ZS contracts) for delivery at a future month — the global price benchmark used by elevators, processors, and traders worldwide. Cash bids are what your local elevator pays today, in cash, for soybeans delivered there. The difference between cash bid and futures is called the basis. AGSIST shows both on this page: front-month and November new-crop futures up top, plus local cash bids by ZIP code in the basis card so you can see what your nearest elevators are paying right now.

The live price above shows the CBOT front-month soybean futures contract (ZS), refreshed every 30 minutes. The "Today's Market Read" block synthesizes price position, corn/bean ratio signal, estimated crush margin, and seasonal context — updated with every price refresh. The live crush spread calculation is one of the only free implementations of this signal on the web.

The corn/soybean ratio — November bean futures divided by December corn futures — compares relative revenue potential per acre. Above 2.6:1 soybeans earn more per acre historically; below 2.4:1 corn wins; 2.4–2.6 is neutral. The live ratio is in the Key Ratios widget above. Always pair it with your local breakeven and rotation requirements — the ratio is directional, not definitive.

The gross crush spread estimates the processing margin per bushel of soybeans. One bushel yields ~44 lbs of meal and ~11 lbs of oil. Crushers buy beans and sell meal and oil — their margin is the difference between combined product value and bean cost. When crush margins are strong, processors bid aggressively for beans, supporting futures. AGSIST shows a live estimated gross board crush from real-time soy complex prices.

November soybean futures (ZSX) is the new-crop harvest benchmark — what the market expects soybeans to be worth when they come off the combine in fall. It's the primary contract used to forward price new-crop soybeans during winter and spring planning. A November bean price above your full cost of production is a forward-selling opportunity worth evaluating.

Brazil and Argentina together export roughly 60% of globally traded soybeans, making their crop conditions a critical price driver. A drought in Argentina's key provinces (Buenos Aires, Cordoba) or a poor Brazil crop tightens global supply and supports US prices. La Niña years historically add $1–2/bu to US soybean prices. Conversely, record South American crops create direct export competition that pressures US basis from February through May.

Soybean prices historically weaken at US harvest (October) and during South American harvest (February–March) as export competition from Brazil intensifies. The seasonal tendency is for prices to recover from US harvest lows into spring and early summer as old-crop stocks tighten and new-crop weather uncertainty builds. The seasonal chart above illustrates these historical patterns with the current month highlighted. Chinese buying windows and South American weather can significantly override seasonal norms in any given year.

The biggest drivers: (1) USDA WASDE reports — monthly supply/demand that can move beans 30+ cents on surprises; (2) South American crop conditions — Brazil and Argentina drive global supply; (3) China import pace — the world's largest buyer; (4) crush demand — especially renewable diesel policy affecting soy oil; (5) US Dollar Index — a stronger dollar makes US beans more expensive on world markets; and (6) weekly USDA Export Sales every Thursday at 7:30 AM CT.

CBOT soybean futures trade 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 updates prices every 30 minutes on weekdays. Weekend prices reflect the last Friday settlement. Major overnight moves often occur in response to South American weather models released outside US business hours.