Data and fear drive markets and that’s the case today. Grain futures are mixed overnight as traders prepare for Friday’s USDA reports, which aren’t expected to show major changes. Crude oil prices are higher after a survey showed a big drop in inventories last week, while the latest ethanol production numbers out this morning will show if plants ramped up output after a steep drop off. After setting new record highs this week the stock market is lower today as investors focus on sharply rising bond prices, signaling higher interest rates.

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Bryce Knorr first joined Farm Futures Magazine in 1987. In addition to analyzing and writing about the commodity markets, he is a former futures introducing broker and is a registered Commodity Trading Advisor. He conducts Farm Futures exclusive surveys on acreage, production and management issues and is one of the analysts regularly contracted by business wire services before major USDA crop reports. Besides the Morning Call on www.FarmFutures.com he writes weekly reviews for corn, soybeans, and wheat that include selling price targets, charts and seasonal trends. His other weekly reviews on basis, energy, fertilizer and financial markets and feature price forecasts for key crop inputs. A journalist with 38 years of experience, he received the Master Writers Award from the American Agricultural Editors Association.