It was an interesting week in the markets and it appears the coming weeks and months will also prove to be much more interesting than the last several years. World demand for agricultural commodities has risen every year, through record-high prices and low prices. Five years of almost flawless world crop production has masked this annual expansion of consumption. WPI has pointed this out often. We’ve also pointed out a major crop production disaster wasn’t needed to start to turn the market tide. World ending supplies of corn and wheat have been slowly tightening. When you take China out of the corn and wheat equations, ending supplies are every bit as tight (maybe tighter) than they were when prices were scoring record highs...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.