Corn prices are skyrocketing as severe heat bakes crops in the Midwest.
December corn jumped 7.2 percent Monday to finish at $5.94 per bushel.
The searing heat comes during a critical pollination period for corn. Analysts say the longer the fields go without rain, the more the crop may be damaged. That could leave corn supplies short heading into next year.
The potential for a smaller corn harvest is driving up the price of wheat on expectations that demand will pick up. Wheat also is used to feed livestock.
In other trading, metals and energy contracts are mostly higher as concerns linger about Europe's debt crisis. Prices for wheat, soybeans, gold, silver and copper are higher. Oil is lower.
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