World Perspectives
livestock

2020 Outlook for Cow/Calf Producers

The year 2019 was difficult for cow-calf producers as a series of unexpected weather events, heavy winter snowstorms that reduced calf survival rates and massive spring flooding, caused challenges for the industry. Following that was weakness in feeder cattle prices through the summer and the sudden market collapse in August due to the Tyson packing plant fire in Kansas. Some of the little good news that producers received was the fall/winter rally in cattle prices that eventually brought value back above pre-August crash levels. In total, however, 2019 handed cow/calf producers their worst financial losses since 2010, with the “average” ranch in Kansas (WPI’s base region for modeling purposes) losing $25/cow unit. ...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Bounces while Wheat, Soybeans Fall Further

Bears were once again in charge of the CBOT on Wednesday, though they temporarily relinquished control of the corn market to bulls. Funds were aggressive sellers again in soybeans, soymeal, and wheat futures amid bearish fundamentals for each of the commodities and pushed wheat to a new contrac...

Europe; Greening; AI; Ice Cream; UPFs; Algorithms

Europe Pivot Point EU leaders will hold a very pivotal meeting tomorrow covering a range of issues including the use of Russian assets and security guarantees for Ukraine, and a trade agreement with Mercosur. More importantly, their reputations are at risk. President Trump predicts Europe&rsquo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.405/bushel, up $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.0625/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.5825/bushel, down $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $298.2/short ton, down $4.2...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Bounces while Wheat, Soybeans Fall Further

Bears were once again in charge of the CBOT on Wednesday, though they temporarily relinquished control of the corn market to bulls. Funds were aggressive sellers again in soybeans, soymeal, and wheat futures amid bearish fundamentals for each of the commodities and pushed wheat to a new contrac...

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Europe Pivot Point EU leaders will hold a very pivotal meeting tomorrow covering a range of issues including the use of Russian assets and security guarantees for Ukraine, and a trade agreement with Mercosur. More importantly, their reputations are at risk. President Trump predicts Europe&rsquo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.405/bushel, up $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.0625/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.5825/bushel, down $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $298.2/short ton, down $4.2...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins reversed sharply lower last week, swinging back into negative territory after six straight weeks of positive returns. Margins fell $145/head to –$75 as fed cattle prices rebounded $7/cwt (live basis), while the Choice cutout slipped nearly $7/cwt. The rapid compression...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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