World Perspectives

Beyond the Report Headlines: Measuring Trump’s Effects

The BLS released the employment report this morning indicating that the U.S. added 139,000 jobs in May, down slightly from April’s revised 147,000, but slightly above pre-report forecasts of 126,000. However, payrolls were revised downward an unusually large 95,000 for the prior two months, leaving the net gain of jobs, including revisions, at 44,000. Following payrolls there are three sectors it is useful to exclude: government, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality – all of which are heavily influenced by government spending and regulation. This includes COVID lockdowns and re-openings for leisure and hospitality jobs. This measure of “core payrolls” increased only 5,000 in May and is up only a...

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WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry Bulk Markets  The dry bulk market rally of the past two weeks has ended with rates turning softer this week. The Capesize sector – which lead the recent rally – is now leading the way lower with the Panamax sector in tow. The reason for the weaker rates is that fresh cargo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: New Highs and Lows, Mixed Volume and Results

December corn closed higher for a second session in a row, no doubt aided by the daily export sales reported by USDA. By contrast and since its recent high back on 18 July, both the September and November soybean contracts have closed lower each session but one.   There was higher vol...

livestock

Livestock Roundup: Cage-Free Egg Trend Complicates HPAI Recovery

USDA released its Egg Products report yesterday. Shell eggs broken totaled 199 million dozen during June 2025, down 2 percent from June 2024, but 2 percent above the 194 million dozen broken during May. During calendar year 2025 through June, shell eggs broken totaled 1.15 billion dozen, down 1...

WPI Grain Transportation Report

Dry Bulk Markets  The dry bulk market rally of the past two weeks has ended with rates turning softer this week. The Capesize sector – which lead the recent rally – is now leading the way lower with the Panamax sector in tow. The reason for the weaker rates is that fresh cargo...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: New Highs and Lows, Mixed Volume and Results

December corn closed higher for a second session in a row, no doubt aided by the daily export sales reported by USDA. By contrast and since its recent high back on 18 July, both the September and November soybean contracts have closed lower each session but one.   There was higher vol...

livestock

Livestock Roundup: Cage-Free Egg Trend Complicates HPAI Recovery

USDA released its Egg Products report yesterday. Shell eggs broken totaled 199 million dozen during June 2025, down 2 percent from June 2024, but 2 percent above the 194 million dozen broken during May. During calendar year 2025 through June, shell eggs broken totaled 1.15 billion dozen, down 1...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.1375/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.2325/bushel, down $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $9.8925/bushel, down $0.065 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $276/short ton, up $1.5 fro...

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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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