09/22/06 All markets show gains

Wheat futures ended strongly higher on Thursday thanks to weekly export sales at 19.1 million bushels, up from 12.4 million the previous week. Also there are reports Iraqi officials will talk about buying wheat. On Thursday Chicago December wheat was 4.21 ½ a gain of 13 ¾. Kansas City climbed 8 cents, Minneapolis December wheat up 93/4. Market analyst Ryan Calbranz says weather in Australian, South American and Canadian wheat growing areas is a factor along with the Iraqi prospects. CALBRANZ "Now there's talk that they are going to purchase up to 750 thousand tons of US and 500 thousand tons of Canadian wheat so that was a big catalyst." December corn up 8 1/4 to 2.57 ¼. Portland cash white 4.30 up .07. Club White 4.65 up .09 Northwest HRW 11.5 percent protein mostly 5.44 up 8 cents Dark Northern Spring 14 percent protein added a dime to 5.41. Cattle futures were higher on Thursday. Gains were attributed to short covering and bargain hunting. However, further weakness in boxed beef values limited the rally. October live cattle 89.75 up .70. October feeders up .27 to 114.15. October Class III milk at Chicago up .15 to 12.50.