US Cash Grains-Some processors increase soy bids as farmers focus on plantings

CHICAGO, April 14 (Reuters) - Spot basis bids for soybeans firmed at several processing facilities and river terminals in the U.S. Midwest on Monday as farmers seek to start plantings, traders said.

* Corn bids were largely steady to weaker.

* Farmers are focusing on spring plantings, rather than selling crops, as dry weather is expected to encourage them to work in the fields this week, traders said.

* A weekly U.S. Department of Agriculture report, due at 3 p.m. CDT (2000 GMT), is expected to show the U.S. corn crop as 6% planted, according to a Reuters poll of analysts. That would be up from 2% planted the previous week.

* The soy crop is estimated 3% planted, with estimates ranging from 2% to 5%, according to the poll.

* Chicago Board of Trade May soybean futures SK25 were up 3/4 cent a $10.43-1/2 a bushel by 12:25 p.m. CDT. May corn CK25 was down 4-1/2 cents to $4.85-3/4 a bushel.

Basis values are quoted against CBOT futures in cts/bu:

NOTE: 0 = Option price, UNC = Unchanged, UNQ = Unquoted

NC = Not comparable, DP = Delayed price, N/A = Not available,

F = January, H = March, K = May, N = July
Q = August, U = September, X = November, Z = December

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LINKS: 0#USCSHGRN-PM

For U.S. forward basis spreadsheets, please click:

CORN/BASIS, SOYA/BASIS, WHEAT/BASIS, MILO/BASIS

- CBOT corn report COR/

- CBOT soybean report SOY/C

- CBOT wheat report WHE/C

- U.S. grain barge freight values BG/US

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

- U.S. CIF/FOB Gulf Grain GRA/F