CBOT soybeans ease on big US crop, active harvesting

CHICAGO, Oct 12 (Reuters) — Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures fell on Monday under pressure from forecasts for a record-large US crop and active harvesting amid mostly dry weather around the Midwest. In a monthly report on Friday, the US Department of Agriculture raised its 2026 US soybean production outlook to 4.562 billion bushels, up from its forecast for 4.535 billion a month earlier. The agency projected the average yield at 53.1 bushels per acre, from 52.8 bpa previously. Analysts polled, on average, expected production at 4.534 billion bushels with an average yield of 52.8 bpa. The USDA is due to release its weekly crop progress report on Tuesday, a day later than normal due to a federal holiday on Monday. Soybean planting in Brazil is moving at its fastest pace ever to reach about one-fifth of projected planted area as rains favored field work, consultancy firm Patria AgroNegocios said on Friday. Traders are watching for new buying demand from top importer China after a recent trade meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. China's punitive tariff on US soybeans remains in place, which has discouraged private Chinese importers from booking US s