Spot basis bids for hard red winter wheat in the US Plains were mostly steady on Wednesday, with farmer selling picking up following recent gains in KCBT futures, traders said. Basis bids in the Goodland area in Kansas were down 5 cents a bushel amid the increased farmer selling.
Traders said farmers were selling more wheat to pay for fertiliser and fuel ahead of spring seeding. One trader said HRW wheat with test weights of 58 to 60 lbs per bushel and protein levels above 11 percent were fetching premiums of 10 to 20 cents per bushel in eastern Oklahoma and south-eastern Kansas. The quality of wheat from eastern Oklahoma and south eastern Kansas were affected by dry weather.
Traders waiting for results of Saudi Arabian tender to buy 495,000 tonnes of hard milling wheat for arrival in February through May. Origin was optional and bids were due January 9. KCBT wheat futures were lower in Asian trading on Wednesday, with March down 9-1/2 cents at $6.60-1/2 a bushel and May down 4 cents at $6.77.