Agriculture futures slide, livestock prices rise

[April 20, 2010]    CHICAGO (AP) -- Agriculture futures declined early Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade, with soybeans prices sinking after the Agriculture Department said farmers will plant a record crop this year.

That could boost supply of soybeans this year, weighing on prices.

Wheat for May delivery slid 9 cents to $4.63 a bushel; May corn lost 6 cents to $3.485 a bushel; and May soybeans tumbled 34 cents to $9.40 a bushel. May oats were unchanged at $2.135 a bushel.

Meanwhile, beef and pork futures traded higher on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.

June live cattle gained 0.18 cent to 93.35 cents a pound; May feeder cattle added 0.53 cent to $1.1150 a pound; June lean hogs rose 0.85 cent to 83.90 cents a pound; and May pork bellies climbed 0.95 cent to 98.50 cents a pound.

[Associated Press]

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