World Perspectives

Energy Markets and the Slowly Disappearing Diesel Export Ban Proposal

There was encouraging news over the weekend: the White House may reject the misguided idea on Capitol Hill to ban U.S. diesel exports. What WPI has noted previously was perhaps best put by a Department of Energy report of 2022, under the Biden administration: Petroleum liquids markets are globa...

Today’s Top insights
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.22/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $6.9275/bushel, up $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.9775/bushel, up $0.095 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $359/short ton, down $0.4 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Middle East, Mediterranean, and Africa Regional Analysis

Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Iran is reported to have completed its rail link from the border with Afghanistan to the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman — the link is expected to be fully operational in early 2027. This will be Afghanistan&rsq...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins improved to $196/head last week, up $20 from the prior week as fed cattle prices declined faster than the Choice cutout. The cutout eased to $375/cwt while fed cattle fell to $221/cwt, modestly widening packer spreads. Margins remain well above year-ago levels as lower cattl...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.22/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $6.9275/bushel, up $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.9775/bushel, up $0.095 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $359/short ton, down $0.4 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Middle East, Mediterranean, and Africa Regional Analysis

Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Iran is reported to have completed its rail link from the border with Afghanistan to the Iranian port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman — the link is expected to be fully operational in early 2027. This will be Afghanistan&rsq...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins improved to $196/head last week, up $20 from the prior week as fed cattle prices declined faster than the Choice cutout. The cutout eased to $375/cwt while fed cattle fell to $221/cwt, modestly widening packer spreads. Margins remain well above year-ago levels as lower cattl...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.23/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $6.8875/bushel, down $0.145 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.8825/bushel, down $0.3075 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $359.4/short ton, down $...

How Comparative Advantage Shapes Global Trade

Key Takeaways: Comparative advantage encourages countries to specialize in goods they can produce at a lower opportunity cost and rely on trade for others. Differences in climate, land, infrastructure, and technology help determine where agricultural commodities can be produced most efficientl...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $5.23/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $6.8875/bushel, down $0.145 from yesterday's close.  Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $12.8825/bushel, down $0.3075 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $359.4/short ton, down $...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Everything but Soybeans

What You Need to Know Today: Last week’s Trump-Xi meetings included China agreeing to roll back $60 billion in tariffs on a huge swath of U.S. ag products, just notably not soybeans. The exclusion of soybeans from the tariff-reduction list means China’s state-run importers COFCO an...

Policy Quick Hits: Mexico, Ad Hoc Farm Assistance, Ultra-Processed Foods

Mexico Trade Deal The Trump Administration is looking for a win before the November midterm elections, now just five weeks away, especially as trade relations with Canada worsen and there is now a truce with China. The U.S. has made it clear to Mexican officials that it wants a deal with Mexico...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

U.S.-China Deal Delivers Tariff Relief, but Little for Soybeans

Key Takeaways: The U.S.-China agreement lowers tariffs on several U.S. agricultural products, but the lack of additional soybean commitments or greater certainty surrounding China’s existing 25 MMT purchase pledge made the deal a slight disappointment. Lower tariffs on U.S. corn are unli...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Mercosur Regional Analysis

Wheat Argentina Wheat crop conditions remain broadly favorable despite a week marked by frost and localized hailstorms. Currently, 94.6 percent of the crop is rated Normal to Excellent. The most severe storms were reported in central-northern Córdoba and central-eastern Entre Ríos...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 28 September)

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...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: U.S.-China Talks Leave Markets Waiting for More

What You Need to Know Today: Headlines emerging from negotiations between President Trump and President Xi were relatively limited, with a more substantive announcement expected Monday. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that additional details related to agricultural trade cou...

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