The CBOT started the day sharply higher with support from outside markets, which rallied in celebration of the July inflation data. U.S. inflation slowed in July and was viewed as an encouraging sign that the Fed’s interest rate moves are working to control price increases. Despite early day CBOT strength, however, soybeans and soymeal fell back and posted losses as volatility remains high in those markets. Soyoil, on the other hand, posted a strong, bullish day with support from the energy sector. Wheat and corn settled higher, but the latter market pared its gains heading into the close as a bearish WASDE remains a concern for traders. Fresh fundamental news was light for the ag markets on Wednesday, which left futures to tra...
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
Communicating importance of value-added products
Facing increasing pressure to quantify the value of export promotion efforts to investors, a U.S. industry organization retained WPI to develop a quantitative model that better communicated the importance of exports. The resulting model concluded that value-added meat exports contributed $0.45 cents per bushel to the price of corn, increasing support for that sector’s financial support of WPI’s client. In addition to serving the red meat industry with this type of analysis, WPI has generated similar deliverables for the U.S. soybean and poultry/egg industries.