December Corn finished up 28 1/2 at 780 1/2, 1 1/2 off the high and 33 1/2 up from the low. September Corn closed up 28 3/4 at 761. This was 33 1/2 up from the low and 1 1/4 off the high.

The corn market opened sharply lower this morning and remained lower throughout the day. The December contact generally lost to other contract months on what traders described as liquidation and a reaction to yesterday's late, sharp rally in corn. Weather was the major factor in the corn market today according to floor traders as forecasters generally reduced the extreme hot temperatures that had been predicted for next week and pushed this week's cooler forecasts later into the weekend. In addition, a bit more rain is expected in many areas into next week. The USDA issued its latest Export Sales Report this morning. Net old crop sales for corn were 325,900 tonnes and new crop sales were 302,500 tonnes. Sales of 239,000 tonnes are needed each week to reach the current USDA projection for old crop exports. Total sales to date stand at 96.4% of the projected total compared to a 5-year average of 91.9%. Japan was the biggest buyer.

September Rice finished unchanged at 18.8, 0.1 off the high and 0.15 up from the low.