Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were slightly firmer early Thursday on follow-through from the firm close on Wednesday and supportive export news, traders said. But trade was on the lighter side as firms evened positions and were unwilling to take on fresh positions before Friday's USDA crop reports.
September corn was up 1-1/4 cent per bushel at $2.24-1/4 and new-crop December was 1/4 cent higher at $2.36-3/4 by 10:50 am CDT (1550 GMT).