The corn and soybean markets have backed off their winter highs, providing a buyer's opportunity to reach out into the summer months.

The futures markets for these feeds is quite volatile, but purchasing the dips are allowing feed prices to give some to the downside for the first time since last summer. Producers can look for some lower prices over the april / june quarter.

July / August prices will be influenced by the crop prospects in the corn belt. Texas grain crops are losing acreage to cotton and continued lack of rain is making our corn supply questionable at this early date.

Hay is experiencing strong demand because of the short supply of new forage in the pastures.

The overall price picture is going to hinge on the corn belt weather patterns during the next four months. Without excellent midwest crop conditions, supplies of grains for feed will be short and may be very critical for the livestock feeding complex.