GRAINS-Soybeans, corn rebound on technical trading, bargain buying

By Heather Schlitz

CHICAGO, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean and corn futures surged on Thursday on short covering and bargain buying after prices sank low enough to attract buying interest, though supply pressure from favorable U.S. crop conditions continue to loom over the market, analysts said.

Wheat futures spent the session seesawing, but received underlying spillover support from corn futures.

"The market sold off all summer long, but you're seeing some really good export numbers; it was a matter of time before the market found itself a bottom," Jon Marcus, principal owner of Lakefront Futures, said.

The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade Sv1 was up 18-1/4 cents at $10.54-1/4 per by 12:30 p.m. CT (1730 GMT). CBOT corn Cv1 rose 6-1/2 cents to $4.10-1/2 per bushel, with brisk export demand supporting a recovery from contract lows hit last week.

Grain markets were awaiting a demand update from weekly U.S. export sales later on Thursday and further results from ProFarmer's annual crop tour through the U.S. Midwest.

Third-day results from the Pro Farmer crop tour showed Illinois has its highest soybean pod counts in at least 22 years and its second-highest corn yield potential.

Western Iowa showed above-average yield prospects, though crop diseases could threaten final yields.

The annual tour, running through Thursday, is closely followed by the grain market and especially scrutinised this year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected a much larger-than-expected 2025 corn crop.

CBOT wheat Wv1 was unchanged at $5.28-1/4 per bushel in a bounce off contract lows set on Wednesday.

Wheat markets have been weighed down by expectations of ample global supply, including rising estimates of Russia's harvest, though slow Russian exports and demand from Egypt and other importers have helped underpin the market. GRA/TEND