March wheat opened 2 3/4 cents lower on the day at 525 3/4 and established an early range of 518 to 537. The lower open attracted short-covering by specs according to traders along with some modest buying by funds. Wheat lost fractionally to corn in early trade in the March contracts. Unwanted rains in the eastern Australian wheat belt have caused harvest delays with some areas now running 1 month behind. Rains are forecast in some affected areas through the end of the week. Sources there reported last week that some 1 million tonnes of hard wheat had been downgraded to feed quality. There are indications this week that the damaged total could rise to well above that level. Statistics Canada will release updated production estimates tomorrow with some sources expecting increases from their October release.