* Traders await USDA plantings estimates due Thusday
* Soy rises on short-covering, analysts say
* Corn traders see a lack of fresh news
CHICAGO, March 25 (Reuters) - Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat futures retreated on Monday after hitting their highest level in three weeks on tensions in the Black Sea and concerns about the potential for reduced exports from top-supplier Russia, analysts said.
Soybeans rose as dealers adjusted positions ahead of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) planting intentions report due on Thursday, while corn futures stalled during choppy trading. The USDA is also scheduled to report quarterly U.S. grain stocks data on Thursday.
Chicago Board of Trade most-active wheat was down 2-3/4 cents to $5.52 a bushel at 1700 GMT, after earlier touching $5.67, its highest since March 4.
Soybeans were up 14 cents to $12.06 a bushel, while corn was down 1-1/2 cents to $4.37-3/4 a bushel.
Market chatter about a disagreement between Russia and a leading private exporter pushed wheat futures upward, before the market pulled back, analysts said. They said the conflict centered around the government seeking greater control over the country's exports.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure over the weekend and a dry weather forecast for the Black Sea region also temporarily boosted prices, analysts said.
Analysts attributed the climb in soybean futures to short-covering ahead of Thursday's USDA data. They expect further positioning, while ample global supplies keep prices anchored.
Wheat, soybeans and corn are vulnerable to short-covering rallies after speculators built up big net short positions.
Corn was little changed in the asbence of news, analysts said.
"I expect sideways, choppy trade until the USDA report comes out," Jack Scoville, vice president of Price Futures Group, said. (Reporting by Heather Schlitz in Chicago. Additional reporting by Michael Hogan in Hamburg and Peter Hobson in Canberra; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Mark Potter and Barbara Lewis)
