U.S. farmers are starting to face the ugly reality that $3.50-4.00 corn, $8.50-9.00 soybeans and $5.00 wheat simply don’t work, even with big yields. Like elsewhere around the world, the result is likely to be fewer planted acres and reduced crop inputs in 2016.This week’s Mercosur Regional Analysis (see Ag Perspectives, 30 September 2015) included a discussion regarding how farmers in Argentina are losing money at current price levels there and will continue to do so (based on those prices) on substantial portions of the expected corn and soybean areas, which could result in a steep decrease in acreage. WPI has addressed this topic on numerous occasions in the recent past. For some reason, many (if not most) analysts believe these low pric...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
Key Takeaways: With the fall calf run now upon us, producers are finally getting a glimpse of what their realized profits will be for 2026. Some producers may have already obtained a strong estimate of 2026 revenues, especially if calves were forward sold in, for example, the mid-summer...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.