CHICAGO, April 26 (Reuters) – Wheat futures were called toopen 6 to 8 cents per bushel lower at the Chicago Board ofTrade on Tuesday as traders were expected to lock in profitsfrom the market’s rally to a two-month high on Monday.
* The market still had good fundamentals underpinningvalues and declines were expected to be limited by poor growingconditions for wheat crops around the world, traders said.
* The U.S. Agriculture Department late on Monday said 35percent of the U.S. wheat crop was in good to excellentcondition, down from 36 percent a week ago and down from 69percent a year ago.
* USDA also said just 6 percent of the spring wheat crophad been planted, up from 5 percent a week ago, down from 39percent a year ago and below the 25 percent five-year average.
* Canadian plantings of wheat are expected to climb 17.4percent to 24.7 million acres in 2011, according to StatisticsCanada’s first report on 2011 crop plans released on Tuesday.
* Showers this week will boost crop prospects in thenorthern and eastern portion of the U.S. Plains hard red winterwheat region but dryness continues to stress the crop in thesouthwest, leading to crop losses.
* Dryness in North China Plain also becoming a concernbecause the wheat crop is in or near its reproductive stage ofdevelopment and is in need of rain. Dry weather similarly aconcern in western Europe.