After early weakness, most corn futures contracts closed unchanged or near thereto. Meanwhile, in the face of all the macro turmoil, soy complex futures performed rather well. General Comments The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) latest outlook for the current strong El Nino has it weakening more slowly than expected. It indicates the weather pattern will linger on until the fourth quarter of 2016. In late 2015, many private forecasters were predicting a rapid decline of El Nino with a La Nina showing up by mid-summer. The NOAA outlook would appear to preclude the development of a La Nina so quickly. If El Nino does linger on through the summer of 2016 as it slowly weakens, this would seem to reduce chances of a...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
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.