Grain prices fall on planting data

Grain futures prices were sharply lower Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade as a planting prospects were viewed as bearish. Corn was off 32 1/2 to off 40, soybeans were off 30 1/4 to off 49, wheat was off 40 to off 49 and oats were up 3 1/2 to up 12 3/4. The U.S. Department of Agriculture\'s planting prospects report erased the week\'s gains in corn, wheat and soybeans, with planting figures well ahead of expectations. The prices: Corn: May 6.95 1/4 off 40, Jly 6.76 off 40, Sep 5.63 off 40, Dec 5.38 1/2 off 32 1/2. Soybeans: May 14.04 3/4 off 49, Jly 13.85 1/2 off 45 1/2, Aug 13.46 3/4 off 38 3/4, Sep 12.85 off 30 1/4. Wheat: May 6.87 3/4 off 49, Jly 6.91 off 45, Sep 6.99 1/4 off 43 1/4, Dec. 7.13 1/4 off 40. Oats: May 3.96 1/4 off 16 1/4, Jly 3.91 1/4 off 15 3/4, Sep 3.78 1/4 off 7 3/4, Dec 3.61 off 8 1/4.