CHICAGO: US corn futures declined for the first time in four sessions on Monday as warm weather and scattered rains across a large swathe of the Midwest farm belt bolstered development of the recently planted crop.

Soyabeans were mostly lower as favorable US weather outweighed support from improving demand from top importer China.

Wheat futures edged higher on short-covering and technical buying after four days of losses last week

took prices to 9-1/2 month lows.

Widespread rain is expected across the region this week, with the heaviest amounts in parts of Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, among the top corn and soya states, meteorologists said.

Hotter weather is expected beginning next week.

The improved near-term weather could help stabilize corn and soyabean crop conditions, which analysts believe declined slightly in the past week.

"The far western corn belt was too dry, so the crop ratings probably are going down this week.

But we got a shot of rain here now and the forecast maps don't show excessive heat this week," said Don Roose, president of US Commodities in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) July corn fell 4 cents to $3.28-1/2 a bushel by 11:40 a.m. CDT (1640 GMT), while July soyabeans were down 1/4 cent at $8.76-1/4 a bushel.

CBOT July wheat gained 1-1/4 cents to $4.82-1/2 a bushel.

Grain traders are watching for further signs of Chinese demand for soyabeans and other commodities as Beijing works to fulfill its Phase 1 trade deal purchasing commitments.

Talks last week between US and Chinese officials encouraged hopes that Beijing would continue to buy American farm goods after a recent flurry of US soyabean purchases since the end of May.