World Perspectives

Summary of Weekend Reads

Back by popular demand. Hang on to your seat, this is a whirlwind review of this past summer weekend’s beach reads. Taxes: One of former President Donald Trump’s signature accomplishments was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which his opponents derided for cutting the taxes of even rich people and reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent while adding full expensing of investments. Most on the left called it a bailout for the well-off, merely expanding inequality. Liberal economics commentator Noah Smith reflected this view in 2019 but now concedes the policy’s rationale. Higher income taxes might deter individuals from working as hard, but high corporate taxes discourage business investment. He...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.2825/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.225/bushel, down $0.07 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.6175/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $294.3/short ton, down $5...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Give Back Gains on Technical Weakness; Hogs Hit New Highs

Trade in ag commodity futures saw two diverging trends to start the week. Weakness quickly developed in grains and oilseeds amid profit taking, weak technicals, and Export Inspections data that were about as exciting as the last half of the Broncos–Patriots game. Conversely, cattle future...

Free Trade Style; 30,000 Feet; Technology Evolution; Taxing Food

Free Trade Style Brussels realizes the mistake it made when it included agriculture in its free trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries. Proponents bragged that it would remove most tariffs on EU–Latin American food trade and concurrently protect Europe’s geographic indicator...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.2825/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.225/bushel, down $0.07 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.6175/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $294.3/short ton, down $5...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Give Back Gains on Technical Weakness; Hogs Hit New Highs

Trade in ag commodity futures saw two diverging trends to start the week. Weakness quickly developed in grains and oilseeds amid profit taking, weak technicals, and Export Inspections data that were about as exciting as the last half of the Broncos–Patriots game. Conversely, cattle future...

Free Trade Style; 30,000 Feet; Technology Evolution; Taxing Food

Free Trade Style Brussels realizes the mistake it made when it included agriculture in its free trade negotiations with the Mercosur countries. Proponents bragged that it would remove most tariffs on EU–Latin American food trade and concurrently protect Europe’s geographic indicator...

biofuel energy

E15 Dropped from Appropriations Bill

In a years-long, ongoing policy battle, a provision to secure E15 was dropped at the last minute from the appropriations bill. On paper, the path forward looks clear, as the oil refiners’ association is now onboard with E15; however, there are still many other smaller mechanisms in the le...

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From WPI Consulting

Infrastructure investment due diligence

On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.

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