MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS Officials in Iran say that the delay in discharging vessels in Khomeini Port is related to very heavy port volume. As much as 1 MMT of grain is reportedly waiting to be discharged from 20 bulk grain vessels and will be delayed for several weeks. Iran’s imports of basic goods have increased greatly this year as the country tries to import enough to offset the effect of U.S. sanctions on Iran. There is good news for MENA/Africa importers of Ukraine wheat as the government of the Ukraine has said that there will be no “formal cap” on wheat exports in the 2019/2020 year. Wheat exports are expected to exceed 19.5 MMT for 2019/20, up from about 2 MMT 10 years ago, according to World Grain. L...
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.
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...