World Perspectives
livestock

Livestock Roundup: WASDE Trims Cattle Price Outlook

The big news on the livestock side of today’s WASDE was USDA’s reduction in the fed cattle price forecast. Prices for 2024 were trimmed by $3/cwt and USDA dropped its forecast for 2025 annual average prices by $5/cwt from $191/cwt last month to $186 this month. The supply and demand situation hasn’t changed significantly, but prices have been bearish. Last week was the first time since the first week of March 2023 (when prices exceeded those from the same week in 2015) that cattle prices fell below the previous weekly record. The forecast for beef production was increased. The WASDE cited higher cow slaughter and heavier cattle weights in the second half of the year. Slaughter weights are up about 30 pounds from last...

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livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins deteriorated sharply again last week, plunging deeper into negative territory and reached their second lowest value back to at least 2010. Margins fell $144/head week over week to –$314 as fed cattle prices rose another $2.83/cwt while the Choice cutout plunged $14.20/...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Monday’s CFTC report showed managed money traders paring back long positions across the ag space for the third straight week as technical conditions deteriorated further. Funds shed 34,000 contracts from their all-ags position last week, with selling in corn and soybeans accounting for mo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Rally on Crude Oil and Short Covering; Cattle Tempest Now Tempered

Ag markets were higher with support coming from a rally in crude oil and broader energy markets after the U.S. removed Venezuela’s president from power over the weekend. The move has direct bullish implications for crude oil supplies in the near term, which should help broader commodity m...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins deteriorated sharply again last week, plunging deeper into negative territory and reached their second lowest value back to at least 2010. Margins fell $144/head week over week to –$314 as fed cattle prices rose another $2.83/cwt while the Choice cutout plunged $14.20/...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Monday’s CFTC report showed managed money traders paring back long positions across the ag space for the third straight week as technical conditions deteriorated further. Funds shed 34,000 contracts from their all-ags position last week, with selling in corn and soybeans accounting for mo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Rally on Crude Oil and Short Covering; Cattle Tempest Now Tempered

Ag markets were higher with support coming from a rally in crude oil and broader energy markets after the U.S. removed Venezuela’s president from power over the weekend. The move has direct bullish implications for crude oil supplies in the near term, which should help broader commodity m...

MAHA and 2026 USDA Regulations

USDA has announced several new rules and regulations to take effect in 2026, with several aligning with the new Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) goals.   Dietary Guidelines for Americans: The 2025 dietary guidelines were supposed to be released by the end of 2025, but with the govern...

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From WPI Consulting

Infrastructure investment due diligence

On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.

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