The CBOT was mostly higher heading into the WASDE as funds were cautiously covering shorts and paring back risk before the holidays. The WASDE proved to be slightly bullish corn and mostly neutral soybeans and wheat, proving the short-covering trend to have been a good idea. Aside from the WASDE, there was little fresh news for the commodity markets and with the report now past, commodity markets are likely to enter their seasonal holiday lull while keeping a close eye on export demand, which is the major factor driving price action right now. The major theme from the WASDE was for tighter U.S. and global corn stocks on rising demand, and a mostly steady scenario for the wheat market. USDA raised the demand outlook for U.S. wheat exports an...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.
Yesterday’s momentum is facing a tougher test today. Stocks and most grain markets have pulled back, while higher Treasury yields and a firmer dollar are making buyers work harder to defend the gains. Crude oil has turned lower, easing some immediate energy pressure, but the Fed minutes l...
Key Takeaways: Corn prices will see support in 2026/27 and likely average $5.11/bushel for farm-gate values across the marketing year. Support for corn values comes from an 8 percent year-over-year reduction in supplies that is only partially offset by a 2 percent reduction in total use. Soybe...
Key Takeaways: Global vegetable oil production continues to expand, but the major oils are being driven by very different supply, demand, and trade dynamics. Palm oil faces heavy near-term supply pressure from rising Malaysian inventories, while Indonesia’s B50 mandate and El Niño...