By Ian Berry
    Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
 
 
   CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--In a choppy day of trading, Chicago Board of Trade corn
 futures ended mixed Friday as traders displayed caution ahead of Monday's
 government planted acreage report.
 
   July corn was up 1 cent to $7.54 1/2 per bushel, September corn was down 1/2
 cent to $7.67 3/4 and December corn was down 1 cent to $7.87.
 
   The market traded both sides throughout the day, as momentum from crop
 concerns and outside markets, which fueled a rally earlier in the week, faded.
 
   The U.S. Department of Agriculture will report planted acreage and third-
 quarter stocks Monday at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The report could spark significant
 price action, particularly if it forecasts a significant reduction in acreage,
 an analyst said.
 
   "We're having a little bit of consolidation after this week's big movement,
 and ahead of what will probably be some big movement at the start of next
 week," said Brian Hoops, president of Midwest Market Solutions.
 
   Analysts project the USDA will drop acreage to an average of 85.321 million
 acres from 86.014 million acres in its March report. The drop would have been
 greater, analysts said, but high corn prices had prompted some growers to
 increase their acreage after the March report.
 
   Although the market has been anticipating the report for weeks, some analysts
 said it would be unreliable because the USDA will not be able to accurately
 gauge the flood's effects.
 
   Concern about government intervention into the commodities markets is
 weighing on prices, traders said.
 
   "A degree of caution is coming into the commodities markets, as people worry
 about Congress saying, 'CFTC, do something,'" a trader said.
 
   On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to order
 the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to use its emergency powers to
 immediately curb excessive energy market speculation. Gains in crude oil prices
 have supported other commodities markets, including corn, for much of this
 year.
 
   Crop concerns remain supportive, traders said, although Hoops said this
 week's heavy rains in parts of the U.S. corn belt have been factored into the
 market.
 
   CBOT oats futures ended lower. July oats were down 3 1/2 cents to $4.32 per
 bushel, September oats were down 2 3/4 cents to $4.45 3/4, and December oats
 were down 2 1/4 cents to $4.64 1/4. Traders were cautious ahead of Monday's
 planted acreage report, a trader said.
 
   Ethanol futures were slightly higher. July ethanol ended up $0.018 to $2.917
 per gallon, and December oats closed up $0.039 to $2.919.