World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Grain Markets Face Uncertainty

It is said that grain traders seek certainty, but grain markets thrive on uncertainty. The days since USDA released its WASDE on 12 August have offered the latest example of this dichotomy. Of course when it comes to grain markets, seldom are potential market-moving factors ever certain. However, widely-held collective opinions can sometimes assume the mantle of certainty, no matter how undeserved. That seems to have been the case leading up to last Friday’s WASDE. With the help of numerous crop scouts crisscrossing the Corn Belt, traders had largely convinced themselves that the bizarre wet weather conditions last spring resulted in lost corn acres and more soybean acres but sharply lower yield and production prospects for both. Fol...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Day Awaiting New Inputs

There were few fundamental inputs, but today’s agricultural futures markets established new contract lows for corn, SRW and HRS. There was a new contract high for feeder cattle.   The market has received new private sector crop estimates and next comes crop tours and the August...

VAT Versus Trump Tariffs; MAHA Win?

VAT versus Trump Tariffs Most imports into the U.S. will face an average 15 tariff under Trump trade policy. Critics and news reports warned of disastrous impacts that have thus far failed to develop. This may be due to their relative context. Most countries apply tariffs such as the EU’s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.0125/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.085/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $9.845/bushel, down $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $281.3/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Day Awaiting New Inputs

There were few fundamental inputs, but today’s agricultural futures markets established new contract lows for corn, SRW and HRS. There was a new contract high for feeder cattle.   The market has received new private sector crop estimates and next comes crop tours and the August...

VAT Versus Trump Tariffs; MAHA Win?

VAT versus Trump Tariffs Most imports into the U.S. will face an average 15 tariff under Trump trade policy. Critics and news reports warned of disastrous impacts that have thus far failed to develop. This may be due to their relative context. Most countries apply tariffs such as the EU’s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.0125/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.085/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $9.845/bushel, down $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $281.3/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Black Sea Regional Analysis

Russian Grain Markets: 28 July – 1 August 2025 The harmonizing of July old crop and new crop pricing is coming to an end. As harvesting continues with a delay, prices are volatile depending on the region. Delayed harvest often causes bullish sentiments in some individual regions but press...

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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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