USDA's Cattle on Feed report revealed an unexpected number of feeder cattle placements in August. Retail beef demand is also being impacted by changes in pork and poultry supplies as well as an end to the summer grilling season. Crashing Cattle Prices Last week we reported that pre-estimates regarding the monthly USDA Cattle on Feed report showed an average expectation of approximately 0.3 percent growth in August placements of feeder cattle compared with July. In fact, they were down 5 percent. With very slow marketings during August, the pre-report industry forecast indicated total cattle on feed as of 1 September 2015 would be 3.7 percent higher than on the same date last year. Based on the lower placements, however, the increase was 2...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
Key Takeaways: With the fall calf run now upon us, producers are finally getting a glimpse of what their realized profits will be for 2026. Some producers may have already obtained a strong estimate of 2026 revenues, especially if calves were forward sold in, for example, the mid-summer...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.