World Perspectives

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

After getting a slow start to the nomination process, Brooke Rollins is now the confirmed USDA Secretary, by virtue of a 72-28 confirmation vote last week.   She’s just the second woman to head the agency as Ann Veneman of California was Secretary in 2001 during President George W. Bush's first term. On Friday, Rollins  delivered opening remarks at the Department of Agriculture to more than 400 USDA employees, stakeholders, and Congressional members and staff as she was welcomed to her first full day on the job. "It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as the nation’s thirty-third Secretary of Agriculture ‒ and a privilege beyond description to have the trust of President Donald J. Trump, and the opportunity to adv...

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Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed

  USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today.  Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.4 million head, 99 percent of last year.      Total placements were down 8 percent and below the average pre-report estimate.  Those lighter placements were partia...

livestock

Cattle on Feed - June 2025

U.S. Cattle on Feed totaled 11.4 million head on June 1, 2025. This was down 1 percent from June 1, 2024.  Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.89 million head, 8 percent below 2024.  Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.76 million head, 10 percent below 2024.  Ot...

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Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 25 Corn closed at $4.2875/bushel, down $0.0475 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Wheat closed at $5.6775/bushel, down $0.065 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soybeans closed at $10.68/bushel, down $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soymeal closed at $284.1/short ton, down $...

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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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