World Perspectives

Un-Whole of Government; Apex Predator; Heavy Lift

Un-Whole of Government President Trump’s memorandum last week announcing his America First Trade Policy (AFTP) was issued to five federal departments, two of which are only tangentially involved in trade policy. It skipped over the federal department overseeing more than six percent of U.S. international trade and whose constituency is the most stalwart supporter of the President. His AFTP mentions helping farmers and ranchers three separate times but doesn’t once mention his government’s primary overseer of agricultural trade policy.  As in his first term, he has elevated the Department of Commerce to a leadership position that ignores the intent of the Trade Act of 1974 in giving USTR primacy. This may or may not be...

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May 26 Corn closed at $4.44/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.745/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.6525/bushel, up $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $317.6/short ton, up $3.5...

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Livestock Round Up: Red Meat Production Down, Broilers Up

USDA released the April WASDE today with new 2026 meat production forecasts, changed from the March release. Beef is now projected at 25.79 billion pounds, down 20 million from March, mostly on lower first-half steer and heifer slaughter. Higher cow slaughter will partially offset the reduced...

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Quick Hits: Ethanol and Biodiesel Margins Update

Ethanol Ethanol production margins continue to experience a counter-seasonal surge, with the energy market rally driving the bulk of the move. Prior to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, U.S. ethanol margins were already trending above year-ago levels by $0.10-0.20/gallon...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.44/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.745/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.6525/bushel, up $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $317.6/short ton, up $3.5...

livestock

Livestock Round Up: Red Meat Production Down, Broilers Up

USDA released the April WASDE today with new 2026 meat production forecasts, changed from the March release. Beef is now projected at 25.79 billion pounds, down 20 million from March, mostly on lower first-half steer and heifer slaughter. Higher cow slaughter will partially offset the reduced...

biofuel energy

Quick Hits: Ethanol and Biodiesel Margins Update

Ethanol Ethanol production margins continue to experience a counter-seasonal surge, with the energy market rally driving the bulk of the move. Prior to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, U.S. ethanol margins were already trending above year-ago levels by $0.10-0.20/gallon...

Transportation Perspectives - 9 April

WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...

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From WPI Consulting

Illuminating the value of technical research

On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.

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