Grain futures lower Friday

Grains closed mostly lower Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade with the dollar index up 0.1 percent to 81.44 on the International Exchange. Corn was off 1/2 to off 1 1/2; soybeans were off 26 1/2 to off 28; wheat was off 4 to off 6 1/4 and oats were off 1 1/4 to off 2 1/4. Corn dropped slightly with ethanol production up 1 percent in the latest week. In Brazil, dry weather is deemed as supportive for now of a second corn planting for the year. Wheat prices fell as cumulative sales were reported at 78 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast, compared to a five-year average of 84 percent. Soybean futures dropped sharply as last week\'s sales cancellations were reflected in this week\'s sales report. The prices: Corn: Mar 6.90 1/4, off 1/2; May 6.84 1/4, off 1 1/4; Jly 6.71 3/4, off 1 1/2; Sep 5.73, off 1. Soybeans: Mar 14.61 1/4, off 26 1/2; May 14.43 3/4, off 26 3/6; Jly 14.26 1/2, off 28; Aug 13.87 1/2, off 26 1/2. Wheat: Mar 7.15, off 6 1/4; May 7.18 3/4, off 5 1/4; Jly 7.23 1/2, off 4 1/2; Sep 7.32 1/2, off 4. Oats: Mar 3.88, off 1 1/2; May 3.85 1/4, off 2 1/4; Jly 3.81 1/4, off 1 1/4; Sep 3.78 1/4 off 1 1/4.