Wheat Argentina’s wheat harvest is moving quickly and advanced 11 percent last week, reaching 31 percent total completion. The harvest is finished in the north with farmers posting the lowest yields in five years at 0.85 MT/ha. Further south, yields are still disappointing with the northern end of Cordoba averaging 1.25 MT/ha while Santa Fe fields are producing 1.5 MT/ha. Even in the northern edge of the core wheat-growing region, yields are only 1.9 MT/ha. The national average yield will improve as the harvest reaches the center and south of the core area, but yields are highly likely to be below average in all these areas. In the Buenos Aires province, rains that fell late last week and over the weekend will help with the gr...
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.