The basis in Salina was 8 cents firmer, and 2 cents firmer in Catoosa, Oklahoma. Protein premiums were steady, except for a 2-cent jump for 14 percent protein wheat.
Merchants said wheat business was generally sluggish, which is typical for this time of year, though some spot demand was seen as the holiday season set in.
Weather conditions were seen as a mixed bag for the new crop in the Plains. A winter storm that hit Sunday and Monday brought frigid conditions but some much-needed moisture to parts of north-west Kansas, eastern Colorado and Nebraska. But the moisture missed most of Oklahoma and Texas.
Updated crop condition reports issued Monday afternoon pegged 52 percent of the US winter wheat crop as rated in good to excellent condition, down from 55 percent the previous week. In Kansas, the top US wheat-growing state, the percentage of the crop rated in good-to-excellent shape dropped 2 points to 63 percent over the week ended Sunday.
Meteorlogix weather said on Tuesday that the storm system was largely passed over though there may be some snow in the north and showers in the south on Friday.
The futures market was not providing much incentive for wheat growers to sell supplies. Kansas City Board of Trade December wheat closed down 1/4 cent at $3.47-1/2 per bushel Monday, while deferred months settled up 1/2 to 2 cents.
The futures contracts were expected to open at least 1/2 cent higher Tuesday in a light bounce, traders said.
Export activity overnight featured news Iraq had issued a tender to transport 250,000 tonnes of US wheat bought from French trading company Dreyfus under the country's first free on board (FOB) commodities import deal.
In other news, Australia boosted a forecast for its 2005/06 wheat crop on Tuesday by 22 percent to 24.1 million tonnes after good late-season rains, putting it on track for the fourth-biggest crop on record.