While the quick cold snap that occurred this weekend over the U.S. hard red winter wheat region had been forecast, the problem was that actual temperatures were 5-10 degrees colder than predicted and lasted three to six hours in most areas. WPI has written several times over the last month about the much above-normal temperatures across the U.S. hard red winter wheat region for the past four to six weeks and how that has pushed the crop out of dormancy. We had also said this wasn’t a big deal unless a cold snap dropped temperatures well below freezing. That’s exactly what happened across nearly that entire region Saturday night and Sunday morning. This quick cold snap had been forecast, but the problem was that actual temperatures were 5-10...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.