U.S. crop markets sped higher on Monday, with spring wheat at a four-year high, after weather forecasters said key growing regions will be hot and dry next week.

The markets were headed higher ahead of that weather news due to smaller-than-expected acreage data in USDA’s planting report on Friday. Crop markets close about an hour early on Monday and will be closed on Tuesday’s holiday.

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Futures Senior Editor Bob Burgdorfer comes to Penton Farm Progress with experience as a reporter covering grain markets and other global news with Reuters, Inc. A journalism graduate from Kansas State University, Bob has also worked at daily newspapers and Knight-Ridder as a commodity reporter, covering grains and livestock. He has earned five writing awards for his coverage of Mad Cow Disease, immigration issues and other international breaking news stories