Why are markets upbeat today?Why are markets upbeat today?

A weaker dollar helped spur buying in the grain market Thursday. The greenback is stronger today but futures are still attracting some follow-through buying. Strong corn ethanol usage and soybean crush in July provided some lift overnight, as Wall Street braces for news on how many jobs the economy created in August. A good employment report could keep the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates later this year.

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Senior Editor 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. And you can follow Farm Futures throughout the day on Twitter at www.twitter.com/farmfutures.