CBOT wheat backpedals as rains ease concerns over dry US weather

CHICAGO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures ended flat on Thursday as rains eased worries about dry weather in growing areas of the U.S. Plains, traders said.

• Prices had neared a two-week high in earlier activity on concerns over unfavorable dryness and unusually warm temperatures.

• Weather forecaster Vaisala said rain would increase across the region over the next few days before drier weather returns later this month.

• About 32% of Kansas, the top U.S. winter wheat producer, was suffering from abnormal dryness as of January 6, up from 28% a week earlier, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

• On Monday, analysts expect the U.S. Department of Agriculture to estimate the nation's total winter wheat plantings were 32.413 million acres for harvest in 2026, down from 33.153 million acres planted for harvest in 2025, according to a Reuters poll.

• Traders adjusted positions before the USDA issues those estimates and others next week.

• U.S. wheat export sales for 2025-26 delivery were 118,700 metric tons in the week that ended on January 1, according to the USDA. Analysts expected 200,000 to 500,000 metric tons.

• CBOT March soft red winter wheat WH26 closed unchanged at $5.18 per bushel after earlier touching its highest price since December 26 at $5.22-3/4.

• K.C. March hard red winter wheat KWH26 ended down 1-1/4 cents at $5.30-1/4 per bushel after it also reached a December 26 high in earlier activity.

• Minneapolis March spring wheat MWEH26 was up 3/4 cent at $5.71-1/4 per bushel at the close of trading.