12/29/06 Final trading day of `06

Wheat futures were mixed on the day. March contracts in Chicago were down 2 3/4 at 5.04 1/4 on the Thursday close while Kansas City was up ¼ and Minneapolis was down ¾. With more, here's Joe Victor at Allendale and Associates. VICTOR "It's becoming more realistic that Pakistan will be auctioning off and exporting at least 500 thousand tons of wheat." Corn futures were higher yesterday. July contracts closed above the four dollar level giving bulls an important boost of confidence. March contracts were up 1 3/4 at 3.88 1/2 on the close. Portland cash white 5.03 Club White 5.03 Pacific Northwest HRW 11.5 percent protein up .04 at 5.77. Dark Northern Spring 14 percent protein down .01 at 5.89. Live cattle traded higher on the day. December live cattle futures expire today. The forecast of a winter storm to hit the Midwestern feedlots has brought buyers to the cattle market. Both choice and select cuts were up yesterday in the boxed beef cutout value daily report; choice up 88 cents and Select cuts up 68 cents. February live cattle added 47 to close at 92.55. March feeders 97.85 up 1.12. February Class III milk at Chicago 13.32 up .02. It's a shortened trading day today and the markets will be closed until next Tuesday, first trading day of 2007. I'm Bill Scott in for Bob Hoff, that's Marketline on the Northwest Ag Information Network. Now this.