CORN: Corn futures worked strongly higher today. Jul finished 10-1/2 higher at 6.35-1/2Prices advanced for a 5th session. The trading range was wide between 6.19-1/2 and 6.38-1/2. May settled 7 higher at 5.54-1/4. The corn market advanced on the drop in the dollar index. Corn got major support from wheat, which rose on dry European weather reports. Click here to access latest futures quotations.

SOYBEANS: Soybean futures fell sharply today. Jul finished 33 lower at 14.05. Jan was down 18 at 12.86. The week's high for the spot month was set Thursday at 14.49-3/4. Soybean prices were weaker due to lower crude oil prices and declines in soy products. Soybean planting progress to be reported by USDA Monday will show a big weekly advance.Soy oil closed 0.40 lower across the board with Jul at 50.32. Meal settled 10.10 to 5.00 lower with Jul at 417.90. Click here for current soybean futures prices.

WHEAT: Wheat futures posted strong gains. Jul finished 37-1/2 higher at 6.95-1/4. Trade built on yesterday's gain. It was the 5th consecutive gaining session. Trade was heavy. The day saw a wide trading range with the high and low at 6.97-1/2 and 6.52-1/2. Day trade closed near the high for the day. Sep was up 33-1/2 at 7.03. Chicago open interest was down 5,678 contracts. Chicago wheat was supported by the lower dollar, a general lack of selling interest and covering of short positions. Wheat fu tures were sharply higher for a 5th day, taking out '12 highs and developing a more normal premium to corn.Chicago wheat gained on KCBT and Minneapolis. KCBT Jul wheat ended 33 higher at 7.05. Minneapolis Jul closed 24-3/4 higher at 7.92. Click here for latest Chicago futures.

CATTLE: Live cattle futures for Jun finished 1.98 higher at 119.90. Dec was up 1.57 at 129.03. Cattle futures set life-of-contract highs. The close was the session high. For the week Jun is up 3.75. Cattle futures rose for a 5th session though cash trade remains slow.Estimated cattle slaughter for the day was 127,000 vs 132,000 for the same year-ago date. Year-to-date cattle slaughter is 12.21 million head vs 12.83 million to the year-earlier date.Feeder cattle for May closed 0.62 higher at 151.25 with the day's range of 150.20 to 151.60. Oct was 0.82 higher at 163.25. For the week May is up 1.72. Click here for CME live cattle futures prices or here for feeder cattle prices.

HOGS: Lean hog futures for Jun ended down 0.05 at 87.38. Oct was 0.10 higher, closing at 81.45. For the week Jun is up 1.71. Cumulative year-to-date slaughter is 42.52 million vs 41.83 million to the same year-ago date.Futures were pressured by higher corn futures prices. Hog futures were lower despite stronger cash prices Click here for latest lean hog futures prices.

WEEKLY CHANGE: Percentage change in futures prices for the week, average of all traded months: corn up 6.58%; Chicago wheat up 11.01; Minneapolis wheat up 7.52%; KCBT wheat up 10.09; soybeans up 0.18%; soy oil down 1.86%; soy meal up 1.70%; Chicago live cattle up 2.80%; feeder cattle up 1.90%; lean hogs up 2.84%. Open interest changes for the week: Chicago wheat down 17,027 to 422,496 contracts; corn down 27,573 to 1,222,115; soybeans down 6,801 to 781,684.

OUTSIDE MARKETS: The US dollar index was at 81.30 today, down 0.24. The dollar weakened against the euro and yen. Equity markets were fairly flat with the DJI index unchanged at 0, S&P 500 down 9 at 1295 and NASDAQ down 34 at 2778. Crude oil closed at $ 91.72, down 0.84. Precious metals were mostly higher with gold closing at $1,592, 17.90 higher. For the week the dollar index is up 0.54 and the Dow is down ***.

NWS 6-10-DAY WEATHER: Above-normal temperatures and normal rain are predicted for the main corn belt states. The upper midwest is expected to have normal temperatures and above-normal rain. Above-normal temperatures are forecast for the plains HRW wheat states.