GOOD MORNING, If the rains washed away gains over the last several weeks, a bit of hot and dry is now turning prices higher. In the meantime, the Commitment-of-Traders report showed that long positions were not only lightened up, but that funds were also net short wheat. Wheat is higher on concerns that world production could fall due to lower supplies from the US, Canada, and Russia. Forecasts for Canadian spring wheat and canola are expected to be cut in the coming weeks as the weather remains adverse. Black Sea export prices, (Russia and Ukraine), have been on the rise. Soyoil futures are lower with crude oil prices dipping on the back of a resurgence of the virus and therefore concerns for eco...
What You Need to Know Today: Cattle futures extended their sharp selloff Friday as weakening cash cattle prices, deteriorating feedlot profitability, and reduced packer demand continued to weigh on the market. The inability of futures to sustain a rally following last week's bullish Cattle on...
As predicted, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at the last meeting before the midterm elections, likely in part because of the election (see WPI 19 October and 22 September). The decision comes at the tail end of a midterm election cycle that has been marked by the two parties campaigning...
Key Takeaways: WPI’s new EU rapeseed crushing margin models point to weaker processing returns over the next four months due to higher rapeseed procurement costs and weaker product values. Statistical forecasts call for German crushing margins to decline from €181/MT to €...
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.