Today was all about the WASDE and the lack of an anticipated bearish surprise from USDA sent the CBOT higher by the close. Near-term, it is likely that harvest lows have been forged in the corn and soybean markets. The key story from the WASDE was larger U.S. and world production and supplies for corn and soybeans and, to a lesser extent, wheat. USDA raised U.S. corn planted and harvested area and pegged a near-record yield of 176.3 BPA. Production is forecast at 14.996 billion bushels, just shy of the all-time high. USDA increased the soybean yield but lowered its harvested acreage estimate on drought in the western Corn Belt. Still, soybean production grew 35 Mbu and added 30 Mbu to ending stocks. Notably, USDA increased its forec...
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.