DTN Closing Grain Comments    03/20 14:03
   Corn, Soy Markets Advance With Caution Thursday; Wheat Lower

   Ag markets for the most part continued Wednesday's trading pattern, as wheat
markets again led the way lower after a poor round of export data from the USDA
Thursday morning. Wheat markets did, however, find some traction in the later
hours of the session as the weather for the most part still remains on the
bullish side of the fence for hard red growing areas. Corn and soybeans were
able to move higher led mostly by corn which benefitted from another solid
round of export sales reported Thursday morning. Outside markets were mostly
positive with stock indices up but the U.S. dollar strength following the Fed
meeting Wednesday has pressured wheat. The Federal Reserve, as expected,
decided to leave its target rate steady in the March meeting. The majority of
policymakers still see two cuts later in 2025, but the Fed did offer a more
uncertain stance on general economic conditions through 2025, expecting a
higher level of inflation and a slower rate of growth for the U.S. economy
through the year; tariff policy was cited as the leading unknown variable.

Rhett Montgomery
DTN Lead Analyst

GENERAL COMMENTS:

   May corn closed up 7 cents and July corn was up 6 1/4 cents. May soybeans
closed up 4 3/4 cents and July soybeans were up 3 3/4 cents. May KC wheat
closed down 8 1/4 cents, May Chicago wheat was down 6 1/4 cents, May
Minneapolis wheat was down 7 cents.