World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds

Weather Market Fun and Games

Aren't weather markets fun? For the third year in a row, the U.S. crop production has been bedeviled by various kinds and combinations of adverse weather ranging from too wet, too dry, too hot and too cold. The spring and summer growing season of this 2013/14 year has been unusually complex. At one time or another and in one region or another, crops have experienced three of those four conditions. So far, it has not been too cold although that is still a possibility and a risk.The level of volatility seen in grain and soy futures markets has been a popular topic since 2008 when markets rose to record heights by mid-year only to collapse later in the year. That price action was extreme enough that it captured political attention even among...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Volume Gives Way as Bearish Slide Moderates

There was lower volume in the grain pits today, with perhaps some stronger interest in the last few days of holiday shopping. Traders were not buying corn or soybeans for their loved ones today, but maybe a wee bit of HRS, which closed up today and uniquely was higher for the week. There were...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report: Record Low Placements, Second Lowest Marketings

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.7 million head, 98 percent of last year.    Placements were the lowest for the month of November since the series began in 1996, dropping 11 percent on the year due to a tight cattle su...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4375/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.0975/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.4925/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $297.6/short ton, down $0.8...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Volume Gives Way as Bearish Slide Moderates

There was lower volume in the grain pits today, with perhaps some stronger interest in the last few days of holiday shopping. Traders were not buying corn or soybeans for their loved ones today, but maybe a wee bit of HRS, which closed up today and uniquely was higher for the week. There were...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report: Record Low Placements, Second Lowest Marketings

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.7 million head, 98 percent of last year.    Placements were the lowest for the month of November since the series began in 1996, dropping 11 percent on the year due to a tight cattle su...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4375/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.0975/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.4925/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $297.6/short ton, down $0.8...

livestock

It’s Official, Cow-Calf Profits Hit Record for 2025

December is upon us and the fall calf run all but ended, the beef industry is finalizing its estimates of 2025 profitability and market performance. For cow-calf producers, the results from all but the last two weeks of the year indicate profits easily hit a record high, even on an inflation-ad...

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From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

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