Corn, soybean, and wheat futures were all lower through most of the Sunday evening session. However, wheat futures turned slightly higher early this morning and continued that trading pattern when the day session opened, closing with gains of up to 5.25 cents. Soybeans continue to bear the brunt of the negative U.S.-China trade news with both countries beginning implementation of higher import tariffs today. China has also reportedly canceled upcoming trade talks, although there was never a firm date set as far as we know. Cool, wet weather is slowing the pace of the U.S. corn and soybean harvest. Corn Belt weather looks better in the eight-14 day forecast. Meanwhile, wet weather is starting to create problems in parts of western Canada (T...
Markets are caught between reasons to keep selling and reasons to take another look. Fund liquidation and renewed peace talks are pressuring grains, while fresh export business and some diesel relief offer encouragement. Corn recovered nearly 10 cents from its low to finish higher, while soybea...
Key Takeaways: President Trump announced $8 billion in additional agricultural assistance through the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, as USDA projects farm fuel and oil expenses will increase 28.8 percent in 2026. The package follows $12 billion in earlier relief, while government farm payments w...
Key Takeaways: A student group from the University of Chicago is protesting to bring back onion futures trading. Trading in onion futures was banned in 1958 following a spectacular bout of market manipulation that resulted in a corner of the physical market. The ban on onion futures led t...
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.