Soybeans Market Overview Demand was slow last week with Chinese buyers waiting for the meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi at the G-20 Summit. Given that the meeting would likely have a significant influence on the trade war’s direction, traders did not want to book sales/purchased without the meeting’s outcome more clearly known. The meeting’s outcome was positive, according to President Trump, and Chinese officials indicated the country will purchase additional agricultural products if an agreement is reached. In essence, nothing has changed, however, as no formal agreement was reached. The market is now waiting to see if China shows more interest in purchasing U.S. soybeans in the near-term, or if it will w...
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.
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...
Key Market Insights Macro markets delivered a full whipsaw today. Early in the session, crude oil had rallied back above $100/barrel as traders priced renewed concern over the U.S.-Iran standoff and potential supply risk through the Strait of Hormuz. That strength helped pull grains off their o...