Grains prices higher in Chicago CHICAGO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Grain futures closed higher Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade with aggressive buying by funds in wheat and soybean markets. Corn was up 3 to up 4 3/4, soybeans were up 14 1/2 to up 16 1/4, wheat was up 6 1/4 to up 8 1/4 and oats were off 1 to up 6. Ethanol production for the week came to 6.573 million barrels with 100 million bushels of corn put to use in ethanol plants, a figure higher than the 94.7 million bushel U.S. the Department of Agriculture estimated. Wheat futures rose with private exporters reporting a sale of 120,000 metric tons. Soybeans prices also rose as weather in Brazil turned drier and China was reportedly in the market as a buyer. Corn: Mar 6.42 up 3, May 6.48 1/4 up 3, Jly 6.51 3/4 up 3, Sep 5.98 1/4 up 4 3/4. Soybeans: Mar 12.15 1/4 up 16 1/4, May 12.24 1/4 up 15 3/4, Jly 12.32 3/4 up 14 3/4, Aug 12.30 1/2 up 14 1/2. Wheat: Mar 6.74 1/4 up 8 1/4, May 6.87 1/2 up 7 1/4, Jly 6.97 1/4 up 6 1/4, Sep 7.11 up 7. Oats: Mar 3.05 up 7, May 3.01 1/4 up 8 1/2, Jly 3.03 up 6, Sep 3.03 1/4 up 1 1/4.