World Perspectives
biofuel energy

Railroads, 2014 Volumes and Court Case

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), rail cars spent twice the time between loading and unloading in the Midwest than last year during the same period, and train speeds were also slowed.After a week of ethanol futures prices exceeding unleaded gasoline prices, things have settled back into a more normal pattern. Ethanol prices started climbing in early February, largely driven by the impact of severe winter weather on rail transportation. About 70 percent of all ethanol comes from the Midwest, and rail loading in and out was impacted by the weather. That backup left an ethanol shortage on the coasts. The typical spread between New York Harbor and Chicago spot ethanol prices is typically about $0.25, but it reached...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Volume Gives Way as Bearish Slide Moderates

There was lower volume in the grain pits today, with perhaps some stronger interest in the last few days of holiday shopping. Traders were not buying corn or soybeans for their loved ones today, but maybe a wee bit of HRS, which closed up today and uniquely was higher for the week. There were...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report: Record Low Placements, Second Lowest Marketings

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.7 million head, 98 percent of last year.    Placements were the lowest for the month of November since the series began in 1996, dropping 11 percent on the year due to a tight cattle su...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4375/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.0975/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.4925/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $297.6/short ton, down $0.8...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Volume Gives Way as Bearish Slide Moderates

There was lower volume in the grain pits today, with perhaps some stronger interest in the last few days of holiday shopping. Traders were not buying corn or soybeans for their loved ones today, but maybe a wee bit of HRS, which closed up today and uniquely was higher for the week. There were...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report: Record Low Placements, Second Lowest Marketings

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.7 million head, 98 percent of last year.    Placements were the lowest for the month of November since the series began in 1996, dropping 11 percent on the year due to a tight cattle su...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4375/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.0975/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.4925/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $297.6/short ton, down $0.8...

livestock

It’s Official, Cow-Calf Profits Hit Record for 2025

December is upon us and the fall calf run all but ended, the beef industry is finalizing its estimates of 2025 profitability and market performance. For cow-calf producers, the results from all but the last two weeks of the year indicate profits easily hit a record high, even on an inflation-ad...

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From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

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