World Perspectives

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 9 November)

Developer's Note 24 August 2026:  WPI recently completed an exercise that updated the codebase for this app and solved some of the discrepancies between our five-year average calculation and USDA's. There are a few lingering cases where early (late) starts (finishes) to the crop cycle resu...

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soy-oilseeds

The Role of Currency Exchange Rates in Agricultural Trade

Key Takeaways: Currency exchange rates influence agricultural export competitiveness and producer profitability, even when underlying commodity prices remain unchanged. A weaker domestic currency allows agricultural exporters to receive more local currency for dollar-denominated sales, potenti...

equities energy

A Closer, More Complex Look at Inflation

Although inflation has remained elevated since the post-COVID surge, it steadily moderated until the past year. More to the point, today’s inflation looks very different from 2022, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) peaked at 9 percent. During and after the pandemic, the M2 money supply...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Mercosur Regional Analysis

Soybeans Brazil Last week was once again very quiet, with very few trades. There is little activity in Brazil's old-crop market, with virtually no old-crop offers remaining for November. Brazil's export lineup for November and December is currently much smaller than last year's. After exporting...

soy-oilseeds

The Role of Currency Exchange Rates in Agricultural Trade

Key Takeaways: Currency exchange rates influence agricultural export competitiveness and producer profitability, even when underlying commodity prices remain unchanged. A weaker domestic currency allows agricultural exporters to receive more local currency for dollar-denominated sales, potenti...

equities energy

A Closer, More Complex Look at Inflation

Although inflation has remained elevated since the post-COVID surge, it steadily moderated until the past year. More to the point, today’s inflation looks very different from 2022, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) peaked at 9 percent. During and after the pandemic, the M2 money supply...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Mercosur Regional Analysis

Soybeans Brazil Last week was once again very quiet, with very few trades. There is little activity in Brazil's old-crop market, with virtually no old-crop offers remaining for November. Brazil's export lineup for November and December is currently much smaller than last year's. After exporting...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.415/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9125/bushel, down $0.08 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.9375/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $2 from y...

Market Commentary: Bears in Control Ahead of WASDE; Cattle Futures Rally as Packer Profits Surge

What You Need to Know Today: Corn and soybean futures were lower to open the week, with funds still in control and in a selling mood. The upcoming WASDE report on Tuesday is also likely to feature larger corn and soybean stocks, which helped put grain futures on the defensive. Wheat futures we...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.415/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9125/bushel, down $0.08 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.9375/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $2 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grain Markets Look to WASDE for Direction

What You Need to Know Today: Market attention is shifting toward Tuesday’s USDA WASDE report, with analysts anticipating a modest reduction in U.S. corn production estimates and an increase in soybean production. The report could provide fresh direction for grain markets as traders reass...

soy-oilseeds biofuel energy

Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts

Key Takeaways:  WPI’s forecasts call for physical U.S. soybean crushing margins to weaken over the next four months and average $4.44/bushel by late February, while CBOT futures margins should rise modestly to about $2.40/bushel. A key catalyst for this is the expectation that U.S...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

European Market Analysis

Regional News  Black Sea trade dynamics remain central to European wheat and corn pricing, with the reported 26 percent increase in Ukraine’s October grain shipments adding pressure to markets. Concurrently, markets are waiting for the scheduled trilateral peace talks between the U.S...

feed-grains livestock farm-inputs

“Lame Duck” and “Farm Bill”: Mutually Exclusive?

The election is over – for the most part. Counting is still underway in some states, including Alaska, where a ranked-choice voting system is in place for the Senate race, and Mississippi, as well as in some House districts. But as of now, Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats,...

wheat farm-inputs

Wheat Technology: Drought Resistance and Consumer Acceptance

Look away for a moment, and technology will surprise you in some way that you could not foresee or even imagine. If you are in the wheat business as a farmer, a miller, or a baker, you might know something about hybrid wheat, genetically engineered wheat, and gene-edited wheat. These products h...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Managed money sold a net 235,000 agricultural futures contracts during the week, cutting the aggregate net long 52.8 percent to 210,000 contracts. Funds have reduced their aggregate agricultural net long by 423,000 contracts over the past two weeks, with this week’s selling exceeding the...

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