US Plains HRW Wheat-Basis bids unchanged as buyers roll bids

CHICAGO, May 1 (Reuters) - Spot hard red winter wheat basis bids were steady in the U.S. Plains on Thursday as trade remained quiet and many buyers rolled their basis bids to the July contract KWN25 ahead of the May contract's expiration date.

• Traders assessed weather conditions for winter wheat crops, which will be harvested in the coming months, and for plantings of spring wheat.

• Recent rain has boosted soil moisture in the southern Plains, where hard red winter wheat is grown, and more is expected next week, weather firm Vaisala said.

• Trade has remained slow as farmers were hesitant to book sales until they have a better idea of their wheat crop's size, while low futures prices provided little incentive to make sales.

• K.C. July hard red winter wheat futures KWN25 ended down 2 cents at $5.27-1/2 per bushel after earlier reaching a contract low of $5.25 per bushel.

Basis values are quoted against futures in cts/bu:

NOTES:

H = March, K = May, N = July, U = September

Z = December; UNQ = Unquoted bids

0 = Sp Option price; NC = No comparison

* = No. 1 12% hard winter wheat, rail bids

** = Ordinary protein, rail bids

LINKS:

* K.C. HRW wheat protein scales KCBT/SCA

* U.S. weekly wheat crop progress US/WHE

* U.S. forward basis WHEAT/BASIS

* U.S. Midwest cash grain PM GRA/PM

* U.S. FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F