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SAN FRANCISCO - Corn rallied following a government report that said seeding of grain in the U.S. is slower than expected, and a forecast for wet weather in the main growing region signaled a further delay in planting.

Corn futures for July delivery increased by 2.9 percent or 17 cents to $6.1075 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade after prices reached the highest record of $6.23 on April 17.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed that about 4 percent of corn was seeded by April 20, this year compared with 9 percent last year.

Heavy rains that were received in the growing areas, logged the soils delaying and slowing seeding of the grain.

The USDA forecasted seeding of the grain to fall by 8.1 percent to 86 million acres this year as farmers plant soybeans and wheat to benefit from their high prices.

Soybean acres were forecasted to increase by 18 percent while spring wheat will increase by 7.8 percent.