The Agricultural Outlook Report published by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs established the goal of 88.4 percent self-sufficiency in grain (rice, wheat, corn, and soybeans) by 2032. The agency merges all four crops together because it cannot achieve that level of self-sufficiency in soybeans alone. The current self-sufficiency rate for the four combined is 82 percent. This is because self-sufficiency in rice, corn and wheat is already in the low to mid-90th percentile. Soybeans are the laggard at only 18 percent. China’s average yields for rice, corn and wheat are already above the world average. If China raised its average soybean yield to the world average of 2.99 MT/hectare, it would still only be 24...
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.
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...