Corn futures ended the session Friday 4 to 9-1/2 cents lower led by the nearby contracts. May futures ended at 494.0 down 9-1/25 while Dec futures dropped 5-1/2 cents to 4.94. The lower trade reflected ideas that US farmers will have a window of opportunity this week to make decent progress on seeding corn. The market shrugged off a USDA export announcement of 101,600 mt of corn to unknown destinations Friday morning. A 42-point rise in the dollar was also noted.
Cattle futures traded mixed. Live cattle contracts ended .80 higher to 1.225 lower. June live cattle ended at 138.05 down 1.20 while Aug live cattle were down 1.225 to 137.35. Feeders ended the session .90 higher to 0.45 lower. May ending down .45 at 183.50 while Aug feeders ended down .15 to 190.325.
Lean Hog futures ended Friday 3.00 higher to 1.25 lower. The July contract ended the day’s trading at 121.975 down 0.725 after making a fresh 2-week low. Pork processors bid steady to 1.00 lower Friday amid demand concerns. USDA reported a 1.81 decline in wholesale pork prices on Thursday. Buying interest was scarce, but the lingering effects of PED virus offered underlying support.
Milk futures ended the session Friday .04 higher to .27 lower. All the 2014 futures ended in negative numbers with nearby May down .10 at 27.75 and June down .27 at 21.55. The only gains recorded Friday were Feb. and March 2015. Both contracts gained .04 while all remaining contracts ended even for the day.