How to Use the Basis Calculator MCP in Claude

Make better commodity sales decisions right from Claude Desktop. This MCP tells you if the basis is working for or against you.

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Connect Basis Calculator MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect Basis Calculator to Claude Desktop — we handle the hosting, security, and runtime updates so you don't have to. No server setup required.

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Setup Basis Calculator with Claude Desktop

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Is the Basis Strong or Weak?

This MCP calculates the current commodity basis by subtracting the futures price from your local cash price. Just feed your AI client the two numbers, and the `calculate_current_basis` tool tells you the exact difference and whether that puts you above or below futures parity. It's a simple gut check before you make a move. Stop guessing if the local market is paying a premium. Get the hard number directly in your chat, whether you're using the Claude Desktop app or the web interface.

Compare to Past Years with this MCP Server

Knowing today's basis isn't enough; you need to know if it's actually any good. The `get_historical_averages` tool pulls up 3- and 5-year average basis data for your commodity and region. This gives you a benchmark. You can quickly see if the current basis is an anomaly or just business as usual, helping you decide whether to sell now or hold out for a better price.

Anticipate Market Moves

Basis has a rhythm, driven by harvest, storage, and transport cycles. Use the `get_seasonality_trend` tool to see the typical basis pattern for the current time of year. Your AI client will show you if the basis tends to strengthen or weaken from this point forward. It's the final piece of the puzzle for timing your sale, moving from a reactive seller to a proactive one.

Setup guide

Set up Basis Calculator MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The Basis Calculator MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the Basis Calculator MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under basis-calculator-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "basis-calculator-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Basis Calculator. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Basis Calculator MCP in Claude Desktop

You connect the Basis Calculator MCP once through the Vinkius catalog. After that, you can ask Claude Desktop questions in plain English, and it will use the tools to calculate basis, pull historicals, or find seasonal trends for you.

The MCP works with any commodity where you can provide a local cash price and a futures price. It's designed for agricultural products like corn, soybeans, and wheat, but the math is universal.

The futures price is the price on a major exchange. The basis is the difference between that price and what a local buyer, like a grain elevator, is offering. This tool helps you analyze that difference.

Yes, because it's faster and provides context. Instead of manually looking up historical data and building formulas, you just ask your AI client. It pulls the relevant historical and seasonal data for you in seconds.

It only processes the physical and futures prices you provide for a calculation. The MCP doesn't store your pricing data after the request is complete. All data transmission uses standard HTTPS encryption between your Claude client and the Vinkius-managed server.

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