Chicago Board of Trade rough rice futures ended higher Tuesday, supported by speculative buying and uncertainty surrounding new crop plantings.

March rice ended 6 1/2 cents higher at $10.44 1/2 per hundredweight, May rice finished 5 cents higher at $10.74, and the November future settled 1-cent higher at $11.50.

Speculative buying produced price strength in old crop contracts in relatively thin trade, with continued strength in new crop futures based on uncertainty with some U.S. rice seeds attracting buyers.