(Investing.com) – U.S. corn and soybean futures traded close to their lowest levels in four years on Monday, as expectations of record yields across much of the U.S. grain belt continued to weigh.
U.S. corn futures resume decline as upbeat crop outlook weighs
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, U.S. corn for December delivery dropped 1.25%, or 4.47 cents, to trade at $3.5213 a bushel during U.S. morning hours.
Corn futures hit $3.4360 a bushel on September 4, a level not seen since June 2010.
Corn prices have been under heavy selling pressure in recent months as expectations of record yields across much of the U.S. grain belt drove prices lower.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the corn harvest will total 14.03 billion bushels, which would break last year’s record of 13.93 billion.
The USDA is set to update is forecast on September 11.
Meanwhile, U.S. soybeans for November delivery dipped 0.37%, or 3.77 cents, to trade at $10.1763 a bushel.
The November soy contract fell to $10.0120 a bushel on September 4, the lowest level since September 2010, amid ongoing indications this year’s crop would be by far the largest in history.
According to the USDA, this fall’s U.S. harvest will reach an all-time high of 3.82 billion bushels.
Elsewhere on the CBOT, U.S. wheat for December delivery slumped 0.59%, or 3.15 cents, to trade at $5.3225 a bushel.
The December wheat contract dropped 5%, or 28.17 cents, last week, as continued strength in the U.S. dollar and receding concerns over a disruption to supplies from the Black Sea-region weighed.
A stronger dollar makes domestic wheat less competitive on the world market.
Corn is the biggest U.S. crop, followed by soybeans, government figures show. Wheat was fourth, behind hay.
