World Perspectives

Higher Interest Rates to Stay

This week’s inflation reports have added some turbulence to the Federal Reserve’s approach to bringing the economy in for a soft landing.  The Fed started an unprecedented set of rate hikes to the federal funds rate in Q2 2022 that helped tame inflation through Q3 2024.  The economy entered Q4 2023 with signs that inflation had been squeezed out, only to see it reignite in late 2023 and carry through Q1 2024.  The March consumer price index (CPI) was up 0.4 percent month over month, the same as February, and up 3.5 percent on a year over year basis.  Core inflation – excluding food and energy, and the category that the Fed watches – was up 3.8 percent, still nearly double the Fed’s goal.&nb...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: New Year Looks Like Old Year

Traders closed out an overall lower week with more of the same. There was a new contract low in SRW, but a late rally pushed HRW slightly into the green for the day but not for the week. Traders brushed off increasing Russia-Ukraine hostilities and any risk of winterkill in wheat. It was a fift...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.375/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.065/bushel, down $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.4575/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $296/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

New Bridge Payments Restore Profitability

On 31 December the USDA announced the per acre payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program for producers hit by the ongoing tariffs.  Cotton and rice will receive the highest payments. On 15 December WPI estimated the upcoming payments, with cotton and rice at the top of t...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: New Year Looks Like Old Year

Traders closed out an overall lower week with more of the same. There was a new contract low in SRW, but a late rally pushed HRW slightly into the green for the day but not for the week. Traders brushed off increasing Russia-Ukraine hostilities and any risk of winterkill in wheat. It was a fift...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.375/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.065/bushel, down $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.4575/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $296/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

New Bridge Payments Restore Profitability

On 31 December the USDA announced the per acre payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program for producers hit by the ongoing tariffs.  Cotton and rice will receive the highest payments. On 15 December WPI estimated the upcoming payments, with cotton and rice at the top of t...

Happy New Year!

The WPI team extends our best wishes to you and your families for a healthy and happy New Year. Thank you for your faithful readership, we are looking forward to serving you in 2026!  Please note that our next report will be issued on Friday, 2 January as the U.S. markets are closed for th...

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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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