Developer's Note 24 August 2026: WPI recently completed an exercise that updated the codebase for this app and solved some of the discrepancies between our five-year average calculation and USDA's. There are a few lingering cases where early (late) starts (finishes) to the crop cycle result in the average and/or high/low estimates seeing pronounced volatility, but these few edge cases are now the exception rather than the rule. Let us know if you have any other comments or feedback! Key Information: If you don't see the app on the WPI homepage, you can always find it here: https://worldperspectives.shinyapps.io/wpi_crop_progress_app/ The app contains a large volume of data, so please be patient while it loads. Also, if you...
What You Need to Know Today: End-of-month profit taking sent the CBOT broadly lower, though corn and soybeans managed to post small gains to continue their rallies. Turkey’s foreign ministry claimed to have a plan to ensure safe passage for both Ukrainian and Russian grain vessels via th...
Key Takeaways: Corn and soybean prices rallied sharply last week as declining U.S. production expectations collided with strong demand, raising the prospect of tighter supplies and leaving the market with a smaller margin for further yield losses. The USDA’s lower August yield estimates...
As WPI reported on 21 August and on 27 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported without out-of-quota tariffs, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing them in at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bring...
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.