World Perspectives
livestock

Cattle Inventory Report: U.S. Cattle Herd Still in Contraction

USDA released its January Cattle Inventory report today. The U.S. cattle herd is still in a contraction phase.  The total inventory of all cattle and calves as of 1 January was 86.7 million head, down 500,000 head from last year. Key numbers from today’s report are: The cattle on feed estimate showed 87.2 percent on feedlots of 1,000 head or more capacity, slightly higher than last year.  The combined total of calves under 500 pounds, other heifers, plus steers over 500 pounds, representing the number of feeder cattle outside of feedlots, was 24.6 million head, just slightly below 1 January 2024. The 1 January number of feeder cattle outside of feedlots is the lowest since 2015. Feeder cattle outside feed lots make up 63 p...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for January 16-22, 2026  Wheat: Net sales of 558,200 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 10 percent from the previous week, but up noticeably from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 378,800 MT were up 2 percent from the previous week and 19 percen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Weather Impacts as Commodities Move Their Own Way

Markets traded higher overnight and opened that way this morning, but the soy complex quickly gave way. Weather threatens shipments down the Mississippi, yields in Argentina and southern Brazil, Ukraine, and other places as well. But it is still a buyers’ market.  A decent USDA Expor...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.3075/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.415/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.7225/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $296/short ton, down $1.8 f...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for January 16-22, 2026  Wheat: Net sales of 558,200 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 10 percent from the previous week, but up noticeably from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 378,800 MT were up 2 percent from the previous week and 19 percen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Weather Impacts as Commodities Move Their Own Way

Markets traded higher overnight and opened that way this morning, but the soy complex quickly gave way. Weather threatens shipments down the Mississippi, yields in Argentina and southern Brazil, Ukraine, and other places as well. But it is still a buyers’ market.  A decent USDA Expor...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.3075/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.415/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.7225/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $296/short ton, down $1.8 f...

Transportation and Export Report - 28 January 2026

Grain transportation was thrown into confusion this week as ice and low water levels on the Mississippi River System snarled barge traffic and caused a surge in CIF grain values. On the ocean freight markets, rising bunker prices and improved demand in the Atlantic drove dry-bulk markets higher...

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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.

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