Soft red winter wheat basis bids were also easier as some millers dropped their bids after a wheat rally on Tuesday.
Country movement was limited to scattered corn sales while farmer sales of soyabeans were at a standstill ahead of the New Year's holiday weekend. Farmers sold during recent CBOT rallies when soyabean futures first moved above $6 per bushel. Some producers expected the market to move even higher in the new year.
"Even above $6 they're thinking things might get a little better yet," said an Ohio dealer.
Dealers also speculated there might be another burst of farmer selling of corn if CBOT March gets above $2.20 per bushel.
Soybean basis bids were mostly 2 to 4 cents higher, more than offsetting declines of 1/2 to 3 cents in the futures market on Wednesday.
Corn basis bids were mostly unchanged, resulting in higher cash prices from March corn futures rising 3/4 of a cent on Wednesday.
Unseasonably warm weather in the Midwest has melted ice on rivers but water levels remain lower than grain dealers would like to see.