By Gary Wulf
   Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


  SUPERIOR, Neb. (Dow Jones)--Farm gate prices paid for most classes of U.S.
cash grain hovered at two- to four-week highs entering the week, with
additional gains in futures posted overnight, as well.

  Cash corn closed at its highest level in a month Friday, averaging just over
$3.18 per bushel, nationwide.

  "If patience is a virtue, corn growers should be feeling plenty righteous
after suffering a long drought in the market. But their ability to hold firm
appears to have paid off," said Farm Futures analyst Bryce Knorr.

  Cash corn/soybean/oat futures also appreciated by another 3-4% overnight,
although wheat prices improved by about only 1%, during nighttime trading.

  "There was good news and bad news for the wheat market last week.
Unfortunately, dark clouds continue to shroud whatever good news the market
gets," Knorr added. "Exports are finally starting to pick up, with a weak
dollar helping make U.S. wheat competitive on world markets. Demand for wheat,
however, just doesn't look all that impressive."

  Domestic basis for most classes of cash grain wavered within 1/2 cent of
unchanged Friday, although spot soybean premiums dropped another 5 1/4 cents,
adding to last week's 30-cent plunge.

  "Farmers continued to move old-crop beans on last week's rally, with basis
breaking sharply at a few locations Friday," said Knorr. "There were again no
deliveries against August futures, though the August/November spread soared
last week."

  National cash price indices maintained by the Minneapolis Grain Exchange
reside at $10.61 3/4 for soybeans, reflecting an average basis of -17 3/4 cents
relative to Friday's settlement of September Chicago Board of Trade futures.
Domestic cash prices also average $3.18 1/4 for corn (-21 1/4 cents basis
September CBOT), $4.87 for hard red winter wheat (-72 1/4 cents basis September
Kansas City Board of Trade wheat), $4.14 1/4 for soft red winter wheat (-$1.14
basis September CBOT wheat) and $5.60 1/4 for hard red spring wheat (-44 3/4
cents basis September MGE wheat).

   Crop Weather


  "On the Plains, hot, dry weather across most of the region favors rapid
summer crop development [and] winter wheat harvesting across the northern
Plains," said U.S. Department of Agriculture agricultural meteorologist Brad
Rippey.

  Meanwhile, in the Corn Belt, he said that "temperatures and soil moisture
levels remain nearly ideal for corn and soybean development."

  A line of rain showers and thunderstorms stretched from the Great Lakes
region southwestward into northern Missouri again Monday morning.

  "In the South, hot weather is returning, especially from the Delta westward,
following an extended period of favorably cool, showery weather," Rippey added.

  Forecasters said showers and thunderstorms will continue to spread across the
Midwest Monday. Heavy rain may also develop across the northern Rockies and
northern Plains later in the week.

  The National Weather Service six- to 10-day outlook for Aug. 8-12 calls for
hot weather across most of the eastern half of the U.S., while
cooler-than-normal weather will prevail in the West. Meanwhile, near- to
above-normal rainfall from the Pacific Coast into the Midwest will contrast
with drier-than-normal conditions across the southern High Plains and the East
Coast.