World Perspectives

Deciphering Trump

The first 100 days of the second Trump presidency doesn’t end until 30 April and is a meaningless metric because Donald Trump’s initiatives will last four years. Washington and the world are not handling the first 55 days very well and they need to figure it out or there will continue to be unnecessary suffering.  One notable fact is that this President is irrepressible. He overcame efforts to keep him out of office first by trying to put him in jail and then by twice trying to assassinate him. He will aways find a way. He uniquely used the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act for trade war compensation in his first term, and now he has used the obscure Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport foreign criminals. He ignores t...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Consolidate while Cattle Rally and Form Reversal

Once again, the big action in the ag futures markets was in the cattle markets, where futures hit new contract and all-time highs for the second straight day. Unexpected strength in the physical cattle and beef markets has propelled futures higher this week, with funds rapidly expanding already...

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...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 25 Corn closed at $4.5875/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Wheat closed at $5.65/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soybeans closed at $10.1275/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soymeal closed at $299.9/short ton, down $...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Consolidate while Cattle Rally and Form Reversal

Once again, the big action in the ag futures markets was in the cattle markets, where futures hit new contract and all-time highs for the second straight day. Unexpected strength in the physical cattle and beef markets has propelled futures higher this week, with funds rapidly expanding already...

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...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 25 Corn closed at $4.5875/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Wheat closed at $5.65/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soybeans closed at $10.1275/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soymeal closed at $299.9/short ton, down $...

‘Dirty 15’; Ukraine’s Ag Exports; WTO and National Security

‘Dirty 15’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Trump Administration may provide one unique number as the newly applied general tariff on each country supplying goods to the U.S. The few countries that have a trade deficit with the U.S. may escape receiving a number but fo...

Image
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.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up