Grains in Chicago mostly lower

Grain futures closed mostly lower Tuesday in Chicago with prices pressured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly supply and demand report. On the Chicago Board of Trade, corn was off 1 3/4 to off 4 3/4, soybeans were off 2 3/4 to off 5 1/2, wheat was off 24 1/2 to off 27 and oats were off 1 1/4 to up 1 1/4. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's report left corn usage unchanged with ending stocks at 647 million bushels, also unchanged from last month. Wheat prices dropped sharply as ending stocks were pegged at 176.94 million metric tons compared with 174.2 million in November. Soybean prices fell modestly with world ending stock at 59.93 million metric tons compared to 60.02 in November. The prices: Corn: Dec 7.24 1/4 off 2 1/2, Mar 7.28 off 2, May 7.30 1/2 off 1 3/4, Jly 7.26 1/4 off 4 3/4. Soybeans: Jan 14.72 off 2 3/4, Mar 14.71 1/4 off 4 1/4, May 14.59 off 3 4/4, Jly 14.46 off 5 1/2. Wheat: Dec 8.05 3/4 off 27, Mar 8.21 1/2 off 27 1/4, May 8.33 3/4 off 26 1/2, 8.42 1/4 off 24 1/2. Oats: Dec. 3.72 3/4 off 1 14, Mar 3.88 off 1, May 3.92 1/4 unchanged, Jly 3.91 3/4 up 1 1/4.