In the News

The March issue of Agri Marketing will feature Focus Reports on the Rural Lifestyle Market and Dairy producers. To schedule your organization's ad, contact Audrey Evans at 636/728-1428 ext 2003; AudreyE@AgriMarketing.com

presents WEEKLY COMMODITY HIGHLIGHTS

Nearby Futures	Weekly Change	Friday's Close	Year Ago
Corn	+.30 ½	6.41 ¾	6.44
Soybeans	+.32	12.19	13.95 ½
Wheat	+.36 ¾	6.47 ¼	8.25 ¾
Cattle	+.15	124.70	107.50
Hogs	+1.35	86.68	85.75
Cotton	-2.99	95.61	164.75
Milk	Unch	17.10	13.50
Crude Oil	+1.23	99.56	89.34

Comments: Grain and soybean futures rallied further last week on continued South American crop concerns, strong cash markets and fund buying spurred by a weaker U.S dollar. Falling estimates of corn and soybean production for both Argentina and Brazil kept crop worries strong even though early week rains stabilized conditions in Argentina. Surging cash corn basis bids spurred commercial short covering in futures as farmers remained slow sellers and demand strengthened. Wheat futures actually had the strongest week on indications U.S. wheat is now competitive in the export market, talk Russia may ban grain exports this spring and bitter cold weather in Russian winter wheat areas. The rally in live cattle futures stalled out last week as feedlots were forced to take lower prices in Plains cash markets, but Friday's USDA cattle inventory report showed the U.S. cattle herd to be even smaller than expected, which should maintain a high floor under prices. Lean hog futures mostly posted moderate gains on support from cash price strength, but negative packer operating margins created demand worries. Cotton futures were hit with speculative profit taking amid very slow export demand.. Click on the Brock logo or call 1-800-558-3431 for more info on our services.