Markets

CBOT corn ends up on S. American crop concerns

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* Private exporters reported the sale of 205,232 tonnes of US corn to Japan for delivery next marketing year - USDA.

* Argentina is too dry and it will be heating up next week with highs in the 80s degrees Fahrenheit to 90s. This will increase stress on crops. There is some rain forecast for later next week but it won't be enough and the situation in Argentina keeps getting worse. Much of Brazil is okay except the southwest where it is too dry. - Drew Lerner, World Weather Inc.

* MDA EarthSat Weather (Cropcast) - Dryness has expanded significantly across South America over the past week and much of southern and western Brazil and east central Argentina are dealing with moisture shortages which are stressing corn and soybeans.

* The dry weather that will weaken soybean yields from last year's record levels in Brazil's southernmost state is hitting corn fields in the same areas even harder, crop specialists said.

* Informa Economics said to peg 2012 US corn acreage 94.389 million, up from 94.0 million in November and the most since 1944.

Copyright Reuters, 2011