11.   The dry spell ended weeks of heavy rain that caused planting progress to fall behind schedule, particularly in the wettest areas to the east.

12.   The planting progress, coupled with forecasts for clear Midwestern skies in coming days, eased concern that rain delays earlier in the season would lead to crop losses.

13.   Rapid recent planting progress sent corn and soybean futures down sharply Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

14.   Corn futures plunged Tuesday on the Chicago Board of Trade amid strong signs that weather-delayed planting progress was getting back on track.

15.   Corn prices opened marginally lower in cautious trading ahead of the planting progress report due out later in the day.

16.   Corn prices were marginally lower as investors tried to assess the impact of wet, cool weather on early planting progress in the corn belt.

17.   Grain futures prices rose despite word-of-mouth reports of improved planting progress over the weekend.

18.   Investors remain concerned about winter wheat conditions, with rainfall in the northern Plains expected to limit planting progress.

19.   Some meteorologists also reduced the amount of rain in their forecasts for the rest of this week, raising expectations for planting progress.

20.   Soybeans rose on the steady planting progress in the corn belt, which decreases chances that significant chunks of corn acreage will be switched over to soybeans.