Spot soyabean basis bids were steady to weak in the US Midwest Friday and movement was moderate, although rains late Thursday stalled harvesting in the Great Lakes region, dealers said.
"It rained. That's going to take care of people for today and probably the weekend," a southern Ohio merchandiser said. Scattered showers were crossing northern Missouri as well.
Corn bids were mixed in the interior and movement was quiet as low cash corn prices kept farmers on the sidelines, dealers said. The basis firmed 2 cents at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where dealers were seeking grain for delivery by the weekend.
Producers were monitoring government loan deficiency payments, or LDPs, for corn that ranged from 39 to 48 cents a bushel in the Midwest on Friday. Farmers were expected to take LDPs and hold their corn off the market.
River bids for both corn and soyabeans were mixed. Barge freight costs softened a bit more from recent record highs, freeing some river elevator operators to pay more for grain.
But there was some talk that Hurricane Rita's arrival this weekend could disrupt operations in the US Gulf region, which could again tighten barge supplies and raise freight costs.