World Perspectives
feed-grains biofuel energy

Simple Sugars; Milk Insurance

Simple Sugars Multinational financial services companies have a lot of expertise, but complex public policy issues deserve more robust analysis than the Credit Suisse report, "Sugar: Consumption at a Crossroads." Through its research institute, the firm opines that a tax on sugar is needed in order to control obesity. It correctly notes that sugar is addictive and likely contributes to obesity, but also admits causality is difficult to prove. Consequently, the authors rely upon an opinion survey of medical doctors. A lot more scientifically relevant work has been conducted on the obesity problem than correlation studies and opinion polls.The authors ignore the inverse correlation in recent years, whereby U.S. per capita sugar consumpti...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Leads Grains Lower on Fund Selling; Cattle Hit New Highs Again

Except for the cattle markets, the CBOT was sharply lower to start the week with trade policy, favorable weather, and weak technicals and large noncommercial short positions weighing on market sentiment. Cattle futures managed to rise to new all-time highs after last week’s record-breakin...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 25 Corn closed at $4.5425/bushel, down $0.1475 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Wheat closed at $5.3125/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soybeans closed at $10.455/bushel, down $0.125 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soymeal closed at $295.5/short ton, down...

Trade Policy Contradictions

There are numerous trade policy contradictions, both between the U.S. and other countries, and within U.S. politics. Internationally, China worries about its import dependence for oil and food, investing heavily in alternative energy and domestic food production while encouraging livestock prod...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Leads Grains Lower on Fund Selling; Cattle Hit New Highs Again

Except for the cattle markets, the CBOT was sharply lower to start the week with trade policy, favorable weather, and weak technicals and large noncommercial short positions weighing on market sentiment. Cattle futures managed to rise to new all-time highs after last week’s record-breakin...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 25 Corn closed at $4.5425/bushel, down $0.1475 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Wheat closed at $5.3125/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soybeans closed at $10.455/bushel, down $0.125 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soymeal closed at $295.5/short ton, down...

Trade Policy Contradictions

There are numerous trade policy contradictions, both between the U.S. and other countries, and within U.S. politics. Internationally, China worries about its import dependence for oil and food, investing heavily in alternative energy and domestic food production while encouraging livestock prod...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Mercosur Regional Analysis

Corn  It was another very short trading week in Argentina, with Thursday and Friday being national holidays. Argentina’s corn harvest continues to progress slowly, with priority given to soybeans while farmers wait for grain moisture levels to drop in the central and southern parts o...

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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.

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