US grain futures fell more than 1 percent early on Friday as fresh doubts emerged over Europe's bailout package and traders evened positions ahead of a monthly US government crop supply-demand report next week. Jitters before a key vote in Greece over the fate of the country's prime minister also weighed on other commodities markets, with oil and gold heading lower.
Grains were also pressured by a firm dollar, which climbed after government data showed US unemployment at its lowest level in six months. Corn and wheat futures were on track for their first weekly decline in a month while soyabean futures were headed for their first weekly loss in two weeks.
Wheat futures led the way down at the Chicago Board of Trade, with benchmark December wheat declining 1.1 percent, or 7-1/2 cents, to $6.28-1/2 per bushel. CBOT December corn fell 4-1/2 cents to $6.49. Soyabeans for November delivery eased 2-1/4 cents to $12.17 per bushel after posting their biggest daily gain in three weeks on Thursday. Wheat was further pressured by forecasts for precipitation in the drought-stricken southern US Plains, where the hard red winter wheat crop is developing.
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