A lower-than-expected crop rating had investors buying corn futures on Wednesday to push that market higher and near a one-week high. USDA late on Tuesday rated the crop 65% good to excellent, which fell short of the 68% many in the trade had expected.

The soybean market followed corn higher.

The wheat markets also advanced after USDA lowered the rating slightly for winter wheat and rated spring wheat at 62% good to excellent versus 79% a year ago.

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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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