GRAINS-Soybean ease on US harvest pressure, good early planting in Brazil

By Karl Plume

CHICAGO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - U.S. soybean futures eased on Monday on active harvesting across the Midwest farm belt and brisk early planting in export rival Brazil, and as top importer China continues to shun U.S. supplies.

Corn futures were mixed as short covering lifted prices at times but the market remained anchored by rising supplies from an accelerating U.S. harvest of what is expected to be a record-large crop. Wheat was lower in a pullback from three sessions of gains.

Trading was cautious as the market awaited an update on U.S. government aid to soy farmers hurt by the trade war with China on Tuesday and an upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping at the end of the month.

"It's been quiet. We're waiting to see what the type of aid package will be released here tomorrow. And as far as new trade flows, things are kind of quiet there as well," said Rich Nelson, chief strategist with Allendale Inc.

Soybeans were also pressured by brisk early planting in Brazil, with the pace at its second-highest level for the date, as of last Thursday, according to agribusiness consultancy AgRural.

News on new export sales and crop harvesting progress was unavailable due to a U.S. government shutdown. The USDA's monthly supply and demand report due on October 9 is likely to be postponed.

However, weekly export inspections figures on Monday were released and were in line with trade estimates.

Chicago Board of Trade November soybeans SX25 were down 1 cent at $10.17 a bushel by 11:36 a.m. CDT (1636 GMT), while December corn CZ25 was up 1-1/4 cents at $4.20-1/4 a bushel. CBOT December wheat WZ25 fell 1/2 cent to $5.14-3/4 per bushel.