That is the question for this month’s WASDE. USDA accepted China’s massive adjustment in corn stocks plus a relatively small upward one in its wheat stocks. Both USDA and China also increased the latter’s corn carry-in by 143 MMT from the October estimate. In addition, USDA boosted China’s 2018 corn production estimate by about 30 MMT, which means it found almost an entire “new” corn crop there in one 30-day period. These numbers have of course prompted many questions and much skepticism over how good any of China’s numbers are. More importantly, numerous traders and analysts are wondering why that country is even included in the world wheat and corn supply/demand estimates if it is so unreliable. T...
Markets are caught between reasons to keep selling and reasons to take another look. Fund liquidation and renewed peace talks are pressuring grains, while fresh export business and some diesel relief offer encouragement. Corn recovered nearly 10 cents from its low to finish higher, while soybea...
Key Takeaways: President Trump announced $8 billion in additional agricultural assistance through the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, as USDA projects farm fuel and oil expenses will increase 28.8 percent in 2026. The package follows $12 billion in earlier relief, while government farm payments w...
Key Takeaways: A student group from the University of Chicago is protesting to bring back onion futures trading. Trading in onion futures was banned in 1958 following a spectacular bout of market manipulation that resulted in a corner of the physical market. The ban on onion futures led t...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.