World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Structural Changes

Our introduction to international grain trade came in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. At that time most U.S. grain exports were under U.S. aid programs such as PL 480 that allowed the recipient governments, which had little access to dollars or other “hard” currencies, to pay for the grain in their own local currency or through long term loans under concessional terms including well below market interest rates.  Regular recipients would hold tenders often for large volumes of wheat or corn through their embassies or special purchasing offices.   In those days the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) owned seemingly endless supplies of wheat and corn as a result of defaults by farmers against their non-recou...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Day Awaiting New Inputs

There were few fundamental inputs, but today’s agricultural futures markets established new contract lows for corn, SRW and HRS. There was a new contract high for feeder cattle.   The market has received new private sector crop estimates and next comes crop tours and the August...

VAT Versus Trump Tariffs; MAHA Win?

VAT versus Trump Tariffs Most imports into the U.S. will face an average 15 tariff under Trump trade policy. Critics and news reports warned of disastrous impacts that have thus far failed to develop. This may be due to their relative context. Most countries apply tariffs such as the EU’s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.0125/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.085/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $9.845/bushel, down $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $281.3/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Day Awaiting New Inputs

There were few fundamental inputs, but today’s agricultural futures markets established new contract lows for corn, SRW and HRS. There was a new contract high for feeder cattle.   The market has received new private sector crop estimates and next comes crop tours and the August...

VAT Versus Trump Tariffs; MAHA Win?

VAT versus Trump Tariffs Most imports into the U.S. will face an average 15 tariff under Trump trade policy. Critics and news reports warned of disastrous impacts that have thus far failed to develop. This may be due to their relative context. Most countries apply tariffs such as the EU’s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.0125/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.085/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $9.845/bushel, down $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $281.3/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Black Sea Regional Analysis

Russian Grain Markets: 28 July – 1 August 2025 The harmonizing of July old crop and new crop pricing is coming to an end. As harvesting continues with a delay, prices are volatile depending on the region. Delayed harvest often causes bullish sentiments in some individual regions but press...

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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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