* Harvest of near-record soybean crop starts in Brazil
* Wheat firms on strong demand, corn futures unmoved
SINGAPORE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean futures ticked lower on Thursday as harvest of a near-record crop started in top exporter Brazil despite concerns over recent dryness hitting yields.
Wheat gained more ground, while corn was flat.
The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) most-active soybean contract slid 0.1% to $13.67-1/2 a bushel, as of 0135 GMT.
Wheat gained 0.3% to $7.90-1/4 a bushel and corn was unchanged at $6.05-1/2 per bushel.
Soybean growers in Brazil's top producer Mato Grosso state began harvesting fields, farmers told Reuters, marking an early start to a record-setting season with potential output above 140 million tonnes.
Dryness in parts of the country had supported prices earlier this week, but weather forecasts are calling for improved chances of rains.
Wheat futures ticked up on a flurry of activity on the export market, and news of U.S.-Russia security talks amid Ukraine tensions, traders said.
Commodity funds were net buyers of CBOT corn, soybeans, soyoil and wheat futures contracts on Wednesday, and net sellers of soymeal futures, traders said. (Reporting by Naveen Thukral; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
