World Perspectives
livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Livestock producer margins were mostly higher last week as gains in physical cattle prices and deferred hog futures supported profitability expectations. Feedlot margins for both placements and closeouts rose sharply last week, and in the case of closeout marketings neared all-time record highs. Placement margins are still negative, however, due to rising feed and feeder cattle costs. Beef packer margins fell slightly last week as weaker beef values offset steady fed cattle values. In the hog sector, closeout margins for farrow-to-finish and wean-to-finish operations decreased due to hedging losses and weaker basis levels while farrowing/placement margins rose on higher deferred futures. Finally, hog packer margins ticked slightly higher on...

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Market Commentary: Bear, Bear, Every Where a Bear

Today was National Poinsettia Day, a plant that is supposed to symbolize goodwill and success but that is only true for the bears today.  There was red all over Chicago and New York as investors counted their blessings of too much grain and too much risk. The only thing rising in value was...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4075/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.2925/bushel, down $0.0425 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.7675/bushel, down $0.1675 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $302.5/short ton, up...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

U.S. Export Sales and Shipments for the week ending Nov 13, 2025...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Bear, Bear, Every Where a Bear

Today was National Poinsettia Day, a plant that is supposed to symbolize goodwill and success but that is only true for the bears today.  There was red all over Chicago and New York as investors counted their blessings of too much grain and too much risk. The only thing rising in value was...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4075/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.2925/bushel, down $0.0425 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.7675/bushel, down $0.1675 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $302.5/short ton, up...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

U.S. Export Sales and Shipments for the week ending Nov 13, 2025...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry-bulk markets were softer last week with Capesize markets seeing weaker interest from East Australia and other Pacific locales. Traders are describing spot tonnage in the Pacific as “abundant”, a mentality that is pressuring rates. Similarly, demand for C3 ex Brazil and West Afri...

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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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