CBOT rallies on worries about U.S. crop damage

CHICAGO, March 17 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures rose on Monday after a windy, stormy weekend in the U.S. wheat belt caused concerns about crop damage, analysts said.

• CBOT May soft red winter wheat WK25 settled up 11-1/2 cents to $5.68-1/2 a bushel.

• K.C. May hard red winter wheat KWK25 ended up 19-1/2 cents at $605-1/2 a bushel, while Minneapolis May spring wheat MWEK25 rose 13-1/4 cents to finish at $6.15 a bushel.

• Wind storms and tornadoes over the weekend in the U.S. Midwest and Plains states drove fears of damage to wheat crops among traders.

• Russia's March wheat exports are estimated to fall, consultancy Sovecon said on Monday. Russia’s government has sought to cut wheat exports to keep domestic flour and bread prices low.