# Distillers dried grains (DDGS) price $169/ton as of Aug 17, 2026 is the current US DDGS board price (national median across 11 fob plant regions, USDA), with its cost per unit of protein and energy _Data through Aug 17, 2026 · source last checked Aug 27, 2026 · page revised Aug 27, 2026_ > Now $169/ton (national median across 11 fob plant regions) as of Aug 17, 2026, USDA, up 3% on the week. Protein costs $0.318 per lb of crude protein (90% of soybean meal); energy $0.107 per lb of TDN (102% of corn). DDGS reached $169/ton as of Aug 17, 2026 (national median, USDA), firming 3% on the week but sitting 2.8% below the four-year median. Protein costs $0.318 per pound of crude protein, 90% of soybean meal. Energy costs 102% of corn per pound of TDN. ## The numbers | Period | Current | Prior | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Week over week | $169/ton | $165/ton | +2.7% | | Month over month | $169/ton | $164/ton | +3.4% | | Year over year | $169/ton | $150/ton | +12.7% | | vs 4-yr median | $169/ton | $174/ton | -2.8% | ## About Distillers dried grains (DDGS) price Distillers dried grains (DDGS) are a protein feed, fed to raise a ration's crude-protein content. On a dry-matter basis they run about 29.5% crude protein and 88% TDN, roughly 0.93 Mcal of net energy for lactation per pound of dry matter, at about 90% dry matter as fed. Those figures come from University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Composition of Selected Livestock Feeds (FSA3043), from NRC Beef Cattle 1996 + Dairy One. The leaderboard uses them to convert this week's board price into a cost per pound of protein and per pound of energy, so it can be ranked against corn and soybean meal. Prices are quoted per ton, and the cheapest board price is not the cheapest fed price once freight and moisture are counted (see the FOB-vs-delivered guide). DDGS is what remains of a corn kernel after a dry-grind ethanol plant ferments off the starch, leaving the protein, fiber, oil and yeast to be dried and sold as feed. Plants are spread across the Corn Belt in a way wet mills are not, which is why DDGS prices regionally rather than off one national quote. Export demand, especially into Asia, competes with domestic dairy, beef and hog rations for the same tons, and sulfur content is the standing constraint on how much a feedlot can safely include. Most plants now pull corn oil out before drying, trimming the fat and energy DDGS carries against the full-fat product of two decades ago. ## Common questions ### What is the price of DDGS today? The current US DDGS price is $169/ton, the national median across 11 fob plant regions on the USDA feedstuffs board as of Aug 17, 2026. Regional quotes trade around that figure; [DDGS prices by region](/ddgs) carries each trade region's own number. ### Are DDGS prices going up or down right now? DDGS prices are broadly flat right now: the national median has shown no sustained move in either direction for 3 weeks. ### Why do DDGS prices differ by region? Feed is a freight business: the same ton of DDGS prices differently in Iowa, California and the Pacific Northwest because it has to get there. [DDGS prices by region](/ddgs) shows every region's own quote, and the [regional pages](/region) carry the full board for each one. ### How does the DDGS price compare with corn? DDGS is fed largely in place of corn and soybean meal, so its price is anchored to theirs. The [DDGS vs corn spread](/spread/ddgs-vs-corn) tracks the pair over time, and the [cheapest-energy board](/leaderboard/cheapest-energy) ranks DDGS against the corn benchmark per unit of energy. ### Where does this DDGS price data come from? From USDA Agricultural Marketing Service feedstuffs reports, published weekly. The national figure here is the cross-region median of the board's DDGS quotes, as-fed dollars per ton. The [methodology page](/methodology) has the full sourcing. ## About this data - Source: USDA AMS feedstuffs board - Series: Distillers dried grains (DDGS) board price - Basis: FOB plant preferred, national cross-region median - Geography: National - Unit: $/ton - Calculation period: Weekly cross-region median - Last observation: Aug 17, 2026 - Update frequency: Weekly --- Cite: Distillers dried grains (DDGS) price is $169/ton as of Aug 17, 2026 (USDA feedstuffs board). The Ration. https://the-ration.com/ingredient/ddgs Canonical URL: https://the-ration.com/ingredient/ddgs