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livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Livestock industry margins were decidedly mixed last week with diverging trends developing across the industry. Beef packer margins gained for the second straight week thanks to stronger beef prices that offset higher fed cattle prices, while feedlot margins dipped for both placements and closeouts Higher expected feed costs were the primary driver of the fourth straight week of declining feedlot placement margins with returns being negative for the third straight week. Closeout margins for feedlots fell from the prior week due to higher estimated feeder cattle purchase costs and greater cost of gain.  For the hog and pork industry, packer margins weakened slightly last week as hog prices rose slightly and the drop value dipped, both o...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.2325/bushel, down $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.25/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.4275/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $285.7/short ton, down $2.9...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

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The CBOT was mostly in the red to start the week with the bullishness from Friday’s WASDE report failing to trigger enthusiasm from bulls this week. Corn and soybeans both tried to rally and follow Friday’s bullish action, but quickly triggered farmer/hedge selling and profit taking...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

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Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.2325/bushel, down $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.25/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.4275/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $285.7/short ton, down $2.9...

Chemo-phobia on Steroids

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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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