Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The ports of Alexandria and Dekheila on the Mediterranean in Egypt have reopened after being closed for two days due to bad weather. Ships at berth were allowed to continue loading or discharging but no vessels were allowed to enter or leave the ports. Egypt reports that 1.26 million hectares of wheat have been planted which is up to 86 percent of the targeted planting. This year’s planting target is up by about 10 percent over last year and government officials feel that the target can easily be reached. Egypt’s Suez Canal income in 2019 has hit a new record of $5.8 billion up 1.3 percent from 2018. 18,880 vessels used the canal carrying 1.2 billion tons of cargo – a...
After spending much of the year searching for a reason to stay, the bulls suddenly have several. Grain markets have strengthened, wheat is leading the charge, outside markets are becoming more supportive, and geopolitical and weather risks are once again demanding attention. Does that mean the...
Key Takeaways: Cover crops are gaining adoption as farmers seek to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and build more resilient cropping systems. While cover crops do not provide immediate revenue, their long-term benefits include improved nutrient retention, water management, and soil produc...
The latest EIA data showed some interesting anomalies in the ethanol industry, changes that will have a material impact on the industry’s profits and corn consumption for 2025/26 and early 2026/27. The EIA reported that ethanol production fell 4.8 percent for the week ending 10 July...
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.