December Corn finished unchanged at 454, 14 1/2 off the high and 1 up from the low. March Corn closed down 1/2 at 472 1/2. This was 1 up from the low and 14 1/2 off the high.

The higher open in corn this morning attracted buying from an array of market participants. Prices rallied into early mid session before selling off gradually into the close. Prices finished just above the lows in the December contract, and corn lost ground to wheat on the day. Funds were strong buyers today of at least 6000 contracts in corn on the day. Weather is expected to start warming into the weekend across most growing areas of the Midwest with rains moving into the western corn belt on Sunday and moving gradually eastward into late next week. While the rains may slow harvest into next week, for now the rate of corn harvesting is accelerating across the Midwest. Private crop estimates this morning have raised both corn and soybean yields in comparison to the latest USDA estimates and that may have pressured the market into mid session. Basis levels at the Gulf were mostly steady this morning. Basis levels were slightly higher yesterday amid the sharp sell off in futures, but they have generally moved lower over the past two weeks.

November Rice finished up 0.5 at 18.345, equal to the high and 0.445 up from the low.