World Perspectives
wheat softs

2026 Minor Crop Acreage Outlook

Yesterday, WPI presented our initial acreage forecasts for the 2026 U.S. crop year with a focus on the major crops (corn, soybeans, and all-wheat). Today, we extend that analysis to show our forecasts for more minor crop acres. Briefly, our modeling results show that producers across the U.S. are still expected to pare back planted area for minor crops amid low farm profitability. One might have expected a larger switch from the “big three” (corn, soybeans, and wheat) into specialty crops, but our current models show the economic incentives lie either in CRP land or crops not currently modeled.  For background (and as we noted Thursday), WPI has recently completed a set of sweeping updates to our U.S. crop acreage forecasti...

Related Articles

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 April)

WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.5375/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.1275/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.745/bushel, up $0.0875 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $321.2/short ton, up $0 from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Rally on Weather, Biofuel Demand Prospects

For much of the period since the U.S.–Iran war started, commodity markets have been buoyed by macroeconomic “risk on” buying fueled by the geopolitical risk and crude oil’s rally. Recently, the impact of this risk and crude oil on the ag markets has faded, leaving crop f...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 April)

WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.5375/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.1275/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.745/bushel, up $0.0875 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $321.2/short ton, up $0 from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains Rally on Weather, Biofuel Demand Prospects

For much of the period since the U.S.–Iran war started, commodity markets have been buoyed by macroeconomic “risk on” buying fueled by the geopolitical risk and crude oil’s rally. Recently, the impact of this risk and crude oil on the ag markets has faded, leaving crop f...

China Market Analysis

Economy The National Bureau of Statistics says China’s GDP grew 5 percent year-over-year in Q1 2026. Other sources contend that the Iran war has helped pull the economy out of deflation and that it is now in the middle stages of a multi-year correction. The data for the agriculture sector...

Image
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.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up