In the News

Be sure to stop by our booth at NAMA this week! The May issue of Agri Marketing will include the annual listing of largest agencies and Salutes to NAMA's AgriBusiness Leader and Marketer of the Year. To reserve 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	-.29	6.29 ¼	7.55 ½
Soybeans	+.02 ¾	14.36 ¾	13.33 ½
Wheat	-.15	6.38 ½	7.52 ¾
Cattle	+2.20	120.53	118.28
Hogs	-1.75	82.75	93.95
Cotton	+3.54	92.08	197.35
Milk	+.30	15.80	16.74
Crude Oil	-.48	102.83	107.11

Comments: While soybean futures held firm last week on support from strong Chinese demand and tighter USDA supply/demand forecasts, grain futures came under increasing pressure from favorable U.S. weather and large production prospects. The corn market was also disappointed with USDA's unchanged projection for the 2011-12 U.S. corn carryout. Record fast corn planting progress was a bearish market factor, while improving U.S. winter wheat crop ratings overshadowed a modest cut in USDA's U.S. wheat carryout forecast. Macroeconomic concerns spurred by slower-than-expected first quarter growth in China and Spanish debt concerns also hit agricultural commodities hard on Friday as they sent investors scrambling for safer territory and raised questions about demand. Price action was mixed in the livestock markets with live cattle future rallying on support from firmer Plains cash markets, while hog futures were slammed on Friday by fresh demand concerns amid continued weakness in wholesale pork prices. Cotton futures rallied on a tighter U.S. carryout forecast, but were pressured Friday by outside markets. Click on the Brock logo or call 1-800-558-3431 for more info on our services.