In the News

The next issue of AgriMarketing will feature a special salute to NAMA's Agribusiness and Marketers of the year: CHS's Leon Westbrock and OPEN ROADS' Jon Anderson. To schedule your firm's congratulatory ad, contact Judy Knoll at JudyK@AgriMarketing.com or phone 636/728-1428 ext 2002

presents WEEKLY COMMODITY HIGHLIGHTS

Nearby Futures	Weekly Change	Friday's Close	Year Ago
Corn	+ .08	3.96 ¼	6.99
Soybeans	+.75 ½	9.52	10.70
Wheat	+ .44	5.50	12.21
Cattle	+ .55	85.20	98.10
Hogs	-1.45	61.75	62.85
Cotton	+1.25	42.95	71.68

Comments: Agricultural commodities were propelled higher last week by the bold action taken by the Federal Reserve Bank. In an effort to improve consumer confidence and spending, the Fed pumped $400 billion into the U.S. bond market and $750 billion into mortgage-backed securities. The reaction by most commodity markets was immediate and bullish. That's because the Fed is trying to walk a fine line between increasing spending and not creating inflation. All the various government stimulus plans appear to have restored some investor confidence. That does not guarantee investors will come back to owning commodities in droves, but there has been at least a subtle attitude shift. The long awaited Prospective Plantings Report is scheduled for release March 31. A large increase in soybean acreage is widely assumed. If 80+ million acres get planted to soybeans, it will be virtually impossible to keep new-crop futures near current levels. Last week's bankruptcy sale of VeraSun assets should boost corn-for-ethanol usage later this spring. Click on the Brock logo or call 1-800-558-3431 for more info on our services.