Investing.com - U.S. corn futures were lower on Wednesday, as investors cashed out of the market to lock in gains from a recent rally which took prices to a nine-month high on Tuesday, amid mounting concerns over U.S. planting prospects.
On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, U.S. corn for July delivery shed 0.64%, or 3.33 cents, to trade at 5.1788 a bushel during U.S. morning hours.
The July contract rallied to $5.2200 a bushel on Tuesday, the most since July 24, before settling at $5.2140 a bushel, up 1.51%, or 7.6 cents.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that only 19% of the U.S. corn crop was planted as of last week. The five-year average for this time of year is 28%.
Meanwhile, U.S. soybeans for July delivery declined 0.2%, or 2.98 cents to trade at $15.1363 a bushel. The July soybean contract advanced 1.15%, or 17.2 cents, on Tuesday to settle at $15.1720 a bushel.
Soybeans have been well-supported in recent sessions amid concerns over tightening U.S. supplies due to robust export demand.
Elsewhere on the CBOT, U.S. wheat for July delivery slumped 0.44%, or 3.12 cents, to trade at $7.1288 a bushel. The July wheat contract rallied 1.13%, 8.0 cents, to settle at $7.1640 a bushel on Tuesday.
Market players continued to monitor weather and crop conditions in the U.S. Great Plains region.
According to the USDA, approximately 33% of the U.S. winter wheat crop was rated “good” to “excellent” as of last week, down from 34% in the preceding week.
Winter-wheat crops in “very poor” to “poor” conditions rose to 34% from 33% in the preceding week.
Corn is the biggest U.S. crop, followed by soybeans, government figures show. Wheat was fourth, behind hay.