CORN: Corn futures worked strongly higher today. Jul settled 22-3/4 higher at 6.20, maintaining yesterday's market strength. Prices advanced for a 3rd session. The trading range was wide between 5.90-3/4 and 6.20-3/4. May settled 10-1/4 higher at 5.45. The corn/soy ratio was at 0.44 vs 0.46 a week ago and 0.44 a month ago. The corn market advanced on support from higher beans and wheat and limited selling interest. Corn rose for a 2nd session on slow country selling and bull spreading. Click here to access latest futures quotations.

SOYBEANS: Soybean futures gained modestly. Jul settled 9 higher at 14.22. Trade continued yesterday's gain. Jan was down 2-1/2 at 13.00. Trade was active. The close was near the day's high. Soybean prices were supported by advances corn and wheat, fund accumulation and stronger meal trade. Soybeans got support from other contracts but later months were lower.Soy oil closed 1.04 lower across the board with Jul at 50.43. Soy meal settled 3.70 to 7.80 higher with Jul at 425.00. Click here for current soybean futures prices.

WHEAT: Wheat futures posted strong gains. Jul settled 30-1/4 higher at 6.38-3/4. Day trade closed near the high for the day. Sep was up 29 at 6.51-1/4. Chicago wheat was supported by a general lack of selling interest. Word of very dry conditions suddenly developing in Russia, parts of Europe, Australia and southern HR wheat states triggered aggressive spec buying.Chicago wheat gained on KCBT and Minneapolis. KCBT Jul wheat finished 28-1/2 higher at 6.56. Minneapolis Jul finished 9-1/2 higher at 7 .60. Click here for latest Chicago futures.

CATTLE: Live cattle futures for Jun closed 0.50 higher at 116.92. Dec was up 0.65 at 126.78. For the week so far the nearby month is up 0.77. Live and feeder cattle both rose even though wholesale values were steady or lower. Daily cattle kill was estimated at 124,000 compared to 126,000 year-ago. Feeder cattle for May ended 0.28 higher at 149.70 with the day's range of 149.25 to 150.07. Oct was 0.65 higher at 161.18. For the last 3 sessions feeder cattle are up 0.17. The steer-corn ratio based on nearby futures was 18.8 today vs 17.3 a week ago and 19.3 a month ago. Click here for CME live cattle futures prices or here for feeder cattle prices.

HOGS: Lean hog futures for Jun finished 0.12 higher at 86.53. Oct was 0.62 higher, closing at 80.70. For the last 3 sessions the nearby month is up 0.86. Wholesale pork activity continued slow and under steady pressure. Click here for latest lean hog futures prices.

OUTSIDE MARKETS: The US dollar index was at 81.53 today, up 0.15. The dollar weakened against the euro and yen. Equity markets were fairly flat with the DJI index down 33 at 12598, S&P 500 down 5 at 1324 and NASDAQ down 19 at 2874. Crude oil closed at $ 92.78, down 1.20. Precious metals were lower with gold closing at $1,538, down 18.20. For the week so far the dollar index is up 0.77 and the Dow is down ***.