Grain futures close higher on CBOT

CHICAGO, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Grain futures closed strongly higher across the board on the Chicago Board of Trade Friday on stout export demand and a lower dollar.

Corn was up 15 1/4 to up 17, soybeans were up 22 1/4 to up 26, wheat was up 21 1/2 to up 27 1/2, oats were up 9 to up 11.

A surge in wheat coupled with a lower dollar and stop-selling near the December and January highs pushed corn higher, with an early harvest in the offing. Soybeans found support in equity markets and beliefs increased soybean acreage in Brazil won't lead to a bigger crop with a drought-inducing La Nina weather pattern shaping up. Strong export demand and a lower dollar boosted wheat along with a lower world crop estimate from a widely followed German crop forecaster.

The prices:

Corn: Sep 4.49 3/4 up 16 3/4, Dec 4.64 1/2 up 17, Mar 4.77 3/4 up 17, May 4.82.1 2 p 15 1/4.

Soybeans: Sep 10.29 3/4 up 22 1/4, Nov 10.35 up 26, Jan 10.43 3/4 up 25 1/4, Mar 10.49 up 24.

Wheat: Sep 7.08 1/4 up 27 1/2, Dec 2.41 1/4 up 27 1/2, Mar 7.64 up 26 1/4 May 7.56 1/4 up 21 1/2.

Oats: Sep 2.83 up 11, Dec 2.95 up 11, Mar 3.05 1/2 up 10 1/2, May 3.10 up 9.