grain futures were stronger Monday, registering cash-contract gains of around 5 cents for oats/spring wheat and 8-10 cents for corn/soybeans/winter wheat. Cutting of newly ripened winter wheat fields is reportedly underway as far north as southern sections of Oklahoma, leaving pipeline supplies destined to expand rapidly, particularly in light of slack export demand. Although CIF basis for corn, soybeans and grain sorghum were all but unchanged, track/barge bids for hard and soft red...

Weather forecasts through May 10 indicate the crop will get planted at about an average pace, therefore the market is slowly removing weather premium from prices. Our spring wheat crop is currently being seeded and producers will finish in May. This is when seasonal price trends turn lower as the market prepares for the impending winter wheat harvest. WHEAT Wheat futures have rallied sharply so far in the month of April due to frost damage that occurred over the Easter weekend. Producers...

Bottom line: Corn remains a highly volatile market, awaiting the next significant fear driver to fuel a price move out of this stagnant trading range. Another market influence for corn is coming from wheat which has its own world crop fears. We won t have a definitive answer on acreage for almost another month, meaning bulls should be able to rely on acreage fears for support for awhile. Much like the corn market, usage is finding support from fuel demand, as this market feels the growing...

climate report in April predicted increasing disruptions worldwide including ever drier conditions around the Mediterranean, central and eastern Europe. May 11, 2007 BONN, Germany Rains are reviving parched European crops and cargo ships are plying the Rhine fully loaded for the first time in a month but worries remain that global warming is skewing the continent's weather. Wheat prices are down from recent peaks after rains in many regions although the association of German beer brewers...

Physical rubber prices in producing countries were high, indicating a delay in production resumption after the wintering season, when rubber trees yield less, Okubo said. May 24 (Bloomberg) -- Rubber futures in Tokyo, the global benchmark, rose for a seventh day on a decline in Japan's crude rubber stockpiles and speculation strong demand for tires in China and the weaker yen may help prices test the 300 yen level. The benchmark contract has so far gained 2.7 percent this week after rising...