July wheat opened 5 1/4 cents lower this morning at 790 1/2 and established an early range of 771 to 791 3/4. The lower open was followed by an early break below this week's lows and the July contract moved to a new low for 2008. Traders indicate that the early weakness came on spillover selling from corn and soybeans which pushed the market into commission house sell stops. Chicago lost to KC in early trade. Weather is still said to be a negative influence with scattered rains in the southern hard red wheat belt over the past 24 hours and more forecast over the entire southern winter wheat belt over the next 24 hours. Forecast amounts are in the area of 3/4 inch. Drier weather in the northwestern belt indicates that spring wheat planting should wrap up in the next week. Australia continues to be dry in the big eastern wheat state of New South Wales. This region got ample rains during the first 2 months of this year, but the past ten weeks have been dry. This is bringing major planting delays and fears of poor germination, and this follows three years of drought in that area. However, forecasters are calling for general rains in the area starting Friday and possibly lasting through the weekend. France said today that they expect seedings of soft wheat to be up 4.6% from last year. The May wheat futures contract expires at noon today.