Crop markets struggled to stay on the positive side of the balance sheet near midday after early gains faded. Weekly export sales were good for corn but about as expected for soybeans and wheat.

Lower equities and crude oil may be providing some pressure. The dollar also is lower as the Fed’s rate hike on Wednesday matched expectations.

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Farm Futures Senior Editor Bob Burgdorfer comes to Penton Farm Progress with experience as a reporter covering grain markets and other global news with Reuters, Inc. A journalism graduate from Kansas State University, Bob has also worked at daily newspapers and Knight-Ridder as a commodity reporter, covering grains and livestock. He has earned five writing awards for his coverage of Mad Cow Disease, immigration issues and other international breaking news stories.

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