CBOT corn ends higher in choppy trading

CHICAGO, May 19 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade corn futures rose on Monday in choppy trading that held prices near the bottom end of their range, market analysts said.

• Corn futures ended higher in a technical and short-covering rebound, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar.

• Favorable Midwest crop conditions capped gains as recently planted corn fields are due to receive ample rain through midweek.

• CBOT July corn CN25 settled up 4 cents at $4.47-1/2 a bushel. December corn CZ25, which represents the crop that farmers will harvest this autumn, closed up 6-1/4 cents to end at $4.41-3/4 a bushel.

• Traders questioned whether some corn acres across the U.S. Delta and southern Midwest region may not get planted due to heavy rainfall that has been soaking fields.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported weekly corn exports of 1,719,034 metric tons for the week ended March 15, at the high end of trade expectations.

• Heavy rains in Argentina's agricultural heartlands in recent days have raised farmers' fears that soy and corn crops in Argentina, one of the world's leading grains exporters, could suffer losses.