World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Consolidate while Cattle Rally and Form Reversal

Once again, the big action in the ag futures markets was in the cattle markets, where futures hit new contract and all-time highs for the second straight day. Unexpected strength in the physical cattle and beef markets has propelled futures higher this week, with funds rapidly expanding already bullish positions. The other market to see notable strength recently has been wheat, but traders there pared early, bullish bets and left the market to close with only small gains for the day. Corn and soybeans struggled to find traction on either side of the bullish/bearish equation Tuesday, with a lack of news dampening trading interest.  Outside markets were mostly lower for the day as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East. Followi...

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livestock

Cattle Markets Still Screwy

The cattle marketing year is off to a strange start. In the first eight weeks of 2025, weekly carcass weights have averaged 40 pounds more than the same period last year. This component of production is driven by two factors: heavier carcass weights of steers and heifers, and the proportion of...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 25 Corn closed at $4.5875/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Wheat closed at $5.65/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soybeans closed at $10.1275/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soymeal closed at $299.9/short ton, down $...

‘Dirty 15’; Ukraine’s Ag Exports; WTO and National Security

‘Dirty 15’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Trump Administration may provide one unique number as the newly applied general tariff on each country supplying goods to the U.S. The few countries that have a trade deficit with the U.S. may escape receiving a number but fo...

livestock

Cattle Markets Still Screwy

The cattle marketing year is off to a strange start. In the first eight weeks of 2025, weekly carcass weights have averaged 40 pounds more than the same period last year. This component of production is driven by two factors: heavier carcass weights of steers and heifers, and the proportion of...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 25 Corn closed at $4.5875/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Wheat closed at $5.65/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soybeans closed at $10.1275/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soymeal closed at $299.9/short ton, down $...

‘Dirty 15’; Ukraine’s Ag Exports; WTO and National Security

‘Dirty 15’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Trump Administration may provide one unique number as the newly applied general tariff on each country supplying goods to the U.S. The few countries that have a trade deficit with the U.S. may escape receiving a number but fo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Middle East, Mediterranean, and Africa Regional Analysis

Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Tunisia and Algeria are seeing swarms of desert locusts coming from Libya on current strong winds. Both countries have taken immediate action to control the insects before serious crop damage can occur. Pakistan’s wheat prod...

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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.

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