Minneapolis Grain Exchange Announces Fiscal Year Volume Record Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) announced today that it has established a new fiscal year trading volume record. Trading volume totaled 1,451,150 contracts for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, which ended August 31. The previous record was set in 2004 when 1,377,934 contracts traded.

August 2005 Hard Red Spring Wheat Futures volume recorded the 8th highest monthly volume since the contract originated in 1883. Last month’s volume reached 147,709 contracts, the equivalent of 738,545,000 bushels of wheat.

“The Minneapolis Grain Exchange is grateful for the support of our membership and customers over the past year in attaining this record,” said Charles A. Gallup, Chairman of the MGEX Board of Directors. “The Exchange continues to strive to provide quality risk management and price discovery opportunities to the agricultural industry.”

Mark G. Bagan, President and CEO of the MGEX added, “Transacting approximately $25 billion worth of agricultural trade activity over the past fiscal year sets a new benchmark as the MGEX prepares to celebrate its 125 th anniversary in October 2006.”

About Minneapolis Grain Exchange MGEX, established in 1881, is the only market for Hard Red Spring Wheat, Hard Red Winter Wheat Index (HRWI), Hard Red Spring Wheat Index (HRSI), Soft Red Winter Wheat Index (SRWI), National Corn Index (NCI) and National Soybean Index (NSI) futures and options. www.mgex.com.