Soybeans Market Overview The soybean market remained bearish last week with Chinese buyers quiet and Brazilian sellers trying to sell their old crop long positions. Adding to this, last Thursday President Trump tweeted that he had been talking with China’s President Xi Jiping about ending the trade war. CME futures reacted immediately and rose 30 cents in one day. This was not good for Brazilian exporters, who were long basis and looking for Chinese demand. At the same time, Dalian futures dropped 5 percent and reduced crush margins by $30/MT, taking them to breakeven levels. This is also not good for Brazilian exporters nor Chinese crushers since the margins’ collapse eliminated any possibility of the latter purchasing soybea...
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.