World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Worsening Food Prices

Key agricultural commodity prices have risen sharply over the past two years, some reaching their highest level in a decade (see graph below). Now the UN says that climate change could cause production to fall 30 percent at the same time food demand is forecast to rise by 50 percent. The caution with this prognostication is that it was made by two of the worst professions at forecasting: economists and meteorologists! Nonetheless, any price increases will be further compounded by the policy decisions that are being made.  Restrictions on inputs such as land, fertilizer, water, and biotechnology. Disincentives for fossil energy development. Initiatives such as local/food sovereignty. Prohibiting products from certain geographies (...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grain Futures Buying Demand; Livestock Futures Buying Time

Bears were in control of the CBOT again on Monday with technical pressure and bearish fundamental headlines driving prices lower. Soybeans and wheat were the downside leaders for the day as funds accelerated their exit from long positions in these markets amid the chart weakness. Corn futures s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.3975/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.2075/bushel, down $0.085 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.7175/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $303.5/short ton, up $1 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Mercosur Regional Analysis

EXPORT TAXES The government announced last week a permanent reduction in export taxes on major agricultural products. The revised rates are as follows: Soybeans: 26 percent to 24 percent Byproducts: 24.5 percent to 22.5 percent Wheat and barley: 9.5 percent to 7.5 percent Corn and sorghum: 9.5...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grain Futures Buying Demand; Livestock Futures Buying Time

Bears were in control of the CBOT again on Monday with technical pressure and bearish fundamental headlines driving prices lower. Soybeans and wheat were the downside leaders for the day as funds accelerated their exit from long positions in these markets amid the chart weakness. Corn futures s...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.3975/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.2075/bushel, down $0.085 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $10.7175/bushel, down $0.05 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $303.5/short ton, up $1 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Mercosur Regional Analysis

EXPORT TAXES The government announced last week a permanent reduction in export taxes on major agricultural products. The revised rates are as follows: Soybeans: 26 percent to 24 percent Byproducts: 24.5 percent to 22.5 percent Wheat and barley: 9.5 percent to 7.5 percent Corn and sorghum: 9.5...

Farmer Bridge Assistance Program Early Details

The USDA will base the $12 billion in farmer payments it recently announced under the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program on 2025 planted acreage. The department announced that acreage reports, as of 19 December, by 5 p.m., should be “accurate.” Payment rates will be announced th...

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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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