1.   The crops were beginning to shrivel up in the heat.

2.   Expectations for rain in hard red winter wheat growing areas, where the crop is beginning to flower, pressured wheat prices.

3.   Planted crops are beginning to wilt.

4.   The fall crop began arriving at the Greenmarkets a few weeks ago.

5.   The hot spell would come as the corn crop begins its sensitive pollination stage, which determines the amount of grain from each ear.

6.   The rice crop is beginning to head, and there have yet to be major problems with disease or insects.

7.   While exports in the marketing season have been strong, Canadian and European crops are beginning to reach the market, adding competition.