World Perspectives
livestock

Cattle Markets Still Screwy

The cattle marketing year is off to a strange start. In the first eight weeks of 2025, weekly carcass weights have averaged 40 pounds more than the same period last year. This component of production is driven by two factors: heavier carcass weights of steers and heifers, and the proportion of steers and heifers in the slaughter mix among cows and bulls.   This increase in market-ready supplies of fed cattle is likely supported in part by feedlots continuing to increase poundage per animal and packers reducing slaughter schedules in February. This improves operational efficiencies on a per-head basis, as packer margins are under pressure from paying much higher prices for fed cattle. As those measures are keeping cattle...

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WPI U.S. State Soybean Yield and Production Forecasts

Following WPI’s discussion on Friday of state-level corn yield and production estimates, we offer the following outlook for the U.S. soybean crop on a state-by-state basis. Like corn, the size and yield potential of the 2025 U.S. soybean crop is of increasing debate with the USDA’s...

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CFTC COT Report Analysis

Friday’s CFTC report showed managed money traders breaking a three-week trend of net short covering in the ag space as managed money traders expanded their almost-neutral positions. The expansion of short holdings came primarily from selling across the three soy complex contracts and from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.18/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.1925/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.27/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284/short ton, up $0.3 fro...

soy-oilseeds

WPI U.S. State Soybean Yield and Production Forecasts

Following WPI’s discussion on Friday of state-level corn yield and production estimates, we offer the following outlook for the U.S. soybean crop on a state-by-state basis. Like corn, the size and yield potential of the 2025 U.S. soybean crop is of increasing debate with the USDA’s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Friday’s CFTC report showed managed money traders breaking a three-week trend of net short covering in the ag space as managed money traders expanded their almost-neutral positions. The expansion of short holdings came primarily from selling across the three soy complex contracts and from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.18/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.1925/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.27/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284/short ton, up $0.3 fro...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Ending on a Sour Note

The weak jobs report sent most economic indices lower, except for gold. The dollar slumped lower despite the increased likelihood of interest rate cuts. Corn, soybeans and some wheat contract teased higher at the start of the session but they couldn’t hold. There was yet another new contr...

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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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