World Perspectives
feed-grains

Alfalfa's Disappointment

In 2012, global trade in alfalfa hit 1.7 MMT and there was great optimism that it would continue to grow as a valuable forage crop. In fact, it hit the milestone a few years earlier of being the most cultivated forage legume in the world. But ongoing expansion was not to be. Since 2012, the amount of alfalfa traded globally has shrunk by an average -0.8 percent per year. It is the fourth most widely grown crop in the U.S. but remains a niche product, both in terms of where it is produced and the animals that consume it. Some blame the approval of GM alfalfa in 2010, but other field crops yield more energy and thus win the economic battle.  ...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.635/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.1675/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.785/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $319.1/short ton, up $2.6...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Week and a Mixed Outlook

This is the limbo period between the expectations and reality of a new crop going into the ground. Prices gyrate in a narrow range, awaiting something more definitive than planting “intentions.” The bears see a planting pace off to a quick start, the bulls see ground that in many pl...

Kevin Warsh’s Confirmation Hearings and Policy Directions

Kevin Warsh, formerly a member of the Federal Reserve Board, has been nominated by President Trump to be the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Trump has long been critical of current Chair Jerome Powell, even opening a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the handling of cost overruns...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.635/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.1675/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.785/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $319.1/short ton, up $2.6...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Week and a Mixed Outlook

This is the limbo period between the expectations and reality of a new crop going into the ground. Prices gyrate in a narrow range, awaiting something more definitive than planting “intentions.” The bears see a planting pace off to a quick start, the bulls see ground that in many pl...

Kevin Warsh’s Confirmation Hearings and Policy Directions

Kevin Warsh, formerly a member of the Federal Reserve Board, has been nominated by President Trump to be the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Trump has long been critical of current Chair Jerome Powell, even opening a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the handling of cost overruns...

biofuel energy

E15: What Does It Mean?

Previous administrations—including that of President Donald Trump—have promoted domestic consumption of corn and soybeans through expanded biofuel mandates and subsidies. The original framework for this policy was the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which required the...

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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.

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