Spring wheat futures are sharply higher and set contract highs after USDA late on Monday reported a 10 point drop in the crop’s good-to-excellent rating. Gains in the crops are despite new forecasts that have beneficial rain moving through the northern Plains and Midwest this week. There is talk the rain may not reach all the crop areas that need it.  

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Farm 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.

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