Corn prices rise as China muscles in

Market Folly submits:Cattle prices are at all-time highs, thanks to a strong 25 percent rally over the last 12 months. Just look at prices over the past 25 years:You want price strength? How 'bout live cattle futures hitting all-time highs? (Source: Barchart.com)

T. Marc Schober submits:Grain prices are back in the headlines and futures prices are limit up as the USDA updated their 2011 plantings and quarterly grain stocks. The USDA expects big increases in corn, wheat, and cotton acres as farmers attempt to capitalize on high grain prices.

Chinese food inflation was up 2.7 percent year-over-year in March, down from six percent the previous month. This decline was led by a 5.5 percent decline in pork prices. China is the world's largest pork consumer, and pork accounts for a significant chunk of the consumer basket.

W

By Hawkinvest:A perfect storm is causing food prices to spike around the globe. The combination of unseasonal rains in Brazil, production problems in Russia, and a major drought in the United States are responsible for a 45% surge in corn since May, higher prices in soybeans, wheat which is up about 32%, as well as increases in other grains.

By John Nyaradi:Gold lead commodity ETFs higher, as agriculture, oil and natural gas gained. Gold rose yesterday with the spot price touching $1,776.80, the highest level seen since November. Silver moved higher, as well, closing at $34.28.

CURBING THEIR APPETITE: Prices for wheat, corn and soybeans fell. Investors wondered if other countries are trimming their demand for these U.S.-grown crops.