* The corn basis firmed by 1 to 2 cents a bushel at ethanol facilities in Indiana and Illinois.

* Corn and soy bids firmed at some river locations, supported by softer costs for barge freight and demand from exporters at the US Gulf.

* Barges for this week on the Mississippi River at St. Louis were offered Monday at 360 percent of tariff, down from 375 percent on Friday.

* Market players continue to monitor weather as wet conditions persist in the Midwest ahead of spring planting.

* The US Department of Agriculture said it expected to publish a US corn planting progress figure in its April 8 weekly crop progress report.

* Forecasts called for showers Wednesday and Thursday in Nebraska and Iowa and parts of the Delta, the Commodity Weather Group said in a daily note.