World Perspectives

Tariff Follies Begin; Ludicrous Lutnick; Hill-arious Committee Picks

Tariff Follies Begin There is playing from strength, like having the leverage of oversized trade deficits, and then there is overplaying one’s hand. Blanket 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico for ephemeral reasons fentanyl and immigration, two things Mr. Trump cannot even control in his own country, seems rash. Canada and Mexico will retaliate, and they may even drag out negotiations in a gambit that American consumers can get as irate as government grant recipients were early in the week when the President tried to stall their payments. Using the trade imbalance as leverage to achieve improved terms of trade could be legitimate. The rationale is not only flimsy, but the implementation tomorrow without protection for existing dea...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Tariffs More Than Weather

President Trump’s announcement that he will impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting tomorrow eclipsed concerns about South American weather and sent much of the agricultural futures complex into the red on Friday. Both countries will retaliate with Canada saying it will be...

livestock

Cattle Inventory Report: U.S. Cattle Herd Still in Contraction

USDA released its January Cattle Inventory report today. The U.S. cattle herd is still in a contraction phase.  The total inventory of all cattle and calves as of 1 January was 86.7 million head, down 500,000 head from last year. Key numbers from today’s report are: The cattle on f...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.82/bushel, down $0.0825 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.595/bushel, down $0.07 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $10.42/bushel, down $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $301.1/short ton, down $3.6 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Tariffs More Than Weather

President Trump’s announcement that he will impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting tomorrow eclipsed concerns about South American weather and sent much of the agricultural futures complex into the red on Friday. Both countries will retaliate with Canada saying it will be...

livestock

Cattle Inventory Report: U.S. Cattle Herd Still in Contraction

USDA released its January Cattle Inventory report today. The U.S. cattle herd is still in a contraction phase.  The total inventory of all cattle and calves as of 1 January was 86.7 million head, down 500,000 head from last year. Key numbers from today’s report are: The cattle on f...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.82/bushel, down $0.0825 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.595/bushel, down $0.07 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $10.42/bushel, down $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $301.1/short ton, down $3.6 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Day with Wheat Hot, The Rest Not

Today’s trading session pretty much followed the overnight with wheat notching a third day of gains but traders taking a breather on corn, beans, and cattle. While wheat is girded by doubtful moisture conditions in the northern Black Sea region, the corn and soybean markets do not want to...

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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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