Grains slightly higher in Chicago

Grain prices were higher Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade on trader anticipation of a bullish Department of Agriculture report due Thursday. Corn was unchanged to up 1/4, soybeans were off 1 to up 2 1/4, wheat was up 1/2 to up 3 1/2 and oats were up 7 1/4 to up 7 1/2. Gains in corn future were muted by a stronger dollar -- the dollar index rising 0.5 percent on the International Exchange. Wheat prices firmed Tuesday with prices up slightly higher in Kansas City than in Chicago or Minneapolis. In the soybean market, short sales provided some price support that countered pressure from the stronger dollar. The prices: Corn: Dec 7.42 unchanged, Mar 7.42 1/4 up 1/4, May 7.36 1/2 up 1/4, Jly 7.30 1/4 up 1/4. Soybeans: Nov 15.50 off 1, Jan 15.49 1/4 up 1 1/4, Mar 15.04 up 2 1/4, May 14.51 1/2 up 2. Wheat: Dec. 8.64 1/4 up 3 1/4, Mar 8.75 3/4 up 4 1/2, May 8.76 1/2 up 4 3/4, Jly 8.43 up 2 1/4. Oats: Dec 3.78 up 7 1/2, Mar 3.82 1/2 up 7 1/2, May 3.83 1/4 up 7 1/4, Jly 3.83 1/2 up 7 1/4.