Corn The corn harvest is still moving at a slow pace as farmers are focused on soybeans. Farmers harvested 1.8 percent of the area last week (versus almost 10 percent of soybeans), a similar pace to that of the last few weeks. As soybean harvest is nearing the end, the speed of the corn harvest should increase in the coming weeks. Farmers are harvesting the early crop in the south and the first plots of late plated corn in northern areas. The number of corn trucks arriving at ports is averaging slightly below 2,000 per day. This, plus the stocks exporters have at the ports already, is allowing a good loading rate and the vessel lineup is slowly decreasing. During the first half of May, 1.7 MMT of corn was loaded with no big surpris...
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.