Yesterday’s WASDE increased its beef production forecast slightly over January’s estimate based on Q1 slaughter, but for Q2 the slaughter rate will drop based on lower Q4 2022 placements on feed, and lighter slaughter weights. That corresponds to what WPI wrote on 17 November 2022: Placements in October are forecast to be 96 percent of last year. If these two forecasts are accurate, the 1 November inventory on feed would be the lowest in four years and placements would be the lowest of any October since 2012. That is significant since October placements are a big portion of the finished cattle leading into Q2 2023. With many lighter weight cattle pulled forward this year because of drought, it will be notable to look at the pl...
What You Need to Know Today: Markets got a surprise with a corn yield of 181.2 bushels/acre in the October WASDE, above the average estimate of 177.6 bushels/acre and up from USDA’s September estimate of 178.5 bushels/acre. Although stronger demand is expected to absorb some of the addit...
Key Takeaways: On Friday afternoon, President Trump announced that Russia will “immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel” to the United States. The deal, typical of this administration, is light on details but promises an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 m...
The USDA has lowered its 2026 red meat production forecasts slightly while forecasting a slight increase in broiler production. Beef is now projected at 24.802 billion pounds, 75 million pounds less than in September. Cow slaughter is expected to be up; however, this will be offset by lower ste...
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.