Market Trends: 26-30 January 2015During the week in review, wheat prices moved in different directions as prices for other grain crops increased (in RUB expression). On 1 February, the export duty for wheat went into effect.GEOGRAPHICALLY:3rd grade soft milling wheat prices increased in Central and Black Soil (+$0.70-1.20/MT), Volga Valley (+$3.20/MT), and Ural and Siberia (+$8.20-9/MT). However, they continued to decrease in the South (-$2/MT).4th grade soft milling wheat prices also grew in Central and Black Soil (+$1.10-1.60/MT), Volga Valley (+$2.70/MT), and Ural and Siberia (+$4.60-5/MT). They declined in the South (-$1.20/MT).5th grade feed wheat prices increased in the South and Central (+$2.30/MT), Black Soil and Ural (+$1/MT), Volg...
What You Need to Know Today: Oil prices surged today following reports of tanker attacks off the coast of Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebels and renewed U.S. threats to escalate military strikes against Iran, heightening concerns over potential disruptions to Middle East energy supplies. Brent crud...
Key Takeaways: The latest UN data shows solid progress reducing global hunger and food insecurity. The geography of hunger-affected people has shifted substantially, however, and Africa is now the most affected region. To understand why hunger patterns have shifted and what policy option...
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.