World Perspectives

2018 Farm Bill Baseline Outlook

Falling crop prices and net cash farm income are juxtaposed against falling government farm program payments which will create lively debate when the new Congress starts working on the 2018 Farm Bill. The 2014 farm bill doesn’t expire until 2018 but deliberations will start in earnest when the new Congress – which is being elected today – convenes in 2017. As has been observed many times in history, farm bills are often written to fix yesterday’s problems. The decision to eliminate direct payments and focus on shallow loss programs that was made as the world came off the commodity boom fits that mold. Net cash farm income in 2013, prior to the passage of the 2014 farm bill, was $135.6 billion but net cash farm inc...

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U.S. July Fourth Holiday

Please note that Ag Perspectives will not be published tomorrow, Friday, 4 July in observance of the Fourth of July holiday in the U.S. We will resume our normal report schedule on Monday 7 July...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Day But a Strong Week, And More Ahead

It was the last trading day of a shorter trading week that provided lots of inputs. It started with the Acreage and Quarterly Stocks reports, which changed little but they did confirm expectations. Weather continues to point toward ample crop supplies. President Trump teased there is a trade de...

U.S. July Fourth Holiday

Please note that Ag Perspectives will not be published tomorrow, Friday, 4 July in observance of the Fourth of July holiday in the U.S. We will resume our normal report schedule on Monday 7 July...

livestock

Livestock Roundup: China Impact on Red Meat Markets

Pork export sales for the week ending 26 June slowed, following the large volume booked the previous week. However, in the last five weeks pork export sales have averaged over 30,000 MT per week. That is strong for this time of year. Outstanding pork sales at 202,497 MT are running about 10 per...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.37/bushel, up $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.5675/bushel, down $0.0725 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.4925/bushel, up $0.0125 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $292.2/short ton, up $1.4 fr...

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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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