On Thursday, the CME Group's corn, soybean, and wheat markets are expected to start slightly higher.

The early calls for the commodities on Thursday, December 19, 2013, are higher. Corn is seen opening 1 to 2 cents higher, soybeans 1 to 2 cents higher, and wheat 1 to 2 cents higher.

In overnight trading, the March corn futures traded 1/4 cent higher at $4.25 per bushel. March soybean futures traded 1/2 cent higher at $13.14. The March wheat futures contract traded 3/4 cent higher at $6.13. For March soybean meal futures, the contract traded $.20 per short ton higher at $427.90; March soybean oil futures traded $0.03 lower at $39.35

The outside markets are unfavorable for Thursday's grain trade. The real factors driving the calls will be the slightly higher overnight markets.

Discuss the corn, soybean, and wheat markets in Marketing Talk.