World Perspectives

Biblical Proportions

International organizations are warning that COVID-19 and the associated economic recession will increase hunger in poorer countries. To quote World Food Program leader David Beasley, there will be “multiple famines of biblical proportions.” Looking at Sub-Saharan Africa, GDP growth may impact the production of basic food crops like rice and maize, but the data hardly shows “biblical proportions - even during the Great Recession.  Right now, the countries adversely impacted by rising food costs include Sudan, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Zambia. However, these countries suffer from the usual causes of hardship: conflict and poor governance. This is not to say there will not be impacts but they should be viewed in contex...

Related Articles
soy-oilseeds

WASDE Soybeans – June 2025

USDA’s outlook for 2025/26 U.S. soybeans is lower ending stocks compared with 2024/25. U.S. soybean crush for 2025/26 is projected at 2.49 billion bushels, up 70 million from the 2024/25 as higher soybean meal disappearance increases 2 percent due to greater pork and poultry production. I...

feed-grains

WASDE Corn – June 2025

USDA’s outlook for 2025/26 U.S. corn is for record supplies to create higher ending stocks. The corn crop is projected at 15.8 billion bushels, up 6 percent from a year ago due to increases in both area and yield. Planted area is estimated to be 95.3 million acres and yield is projected t...

wheat

WASDE Wheat – June 2025

USDA’s outlook for 2025/26 U.S. wheat is for yields to average 51.6 bushels per acre, which is up 0.4 bushels from last year. Hard Red Winter and White account for most of the increase. Total 2025/26 domestic use is a record 977 million bushels, mostly on food use. Exports are projected l...

soy-oilseeds

WASDE Soybeans – June 2025

USDA’s outlook for 2025/26 U.S. soybeans is lower ending stocks compared with 2024/25. U.S. soybean crush for 2025/26 is projected at 2.49 billion bushels, up 70 million from the 2024/25 as higher soybean meal disappearance increases 2 percent due to greater pork and poultry production. I...

feed-grains

WASDE Corn – June 2025

USDA’s outlook for 2025/26 U.S. corn is for record supplies to create higher ending stocks. The corn crop is projected at 15.8 billion bushels, up 6 percent from a year ago due to increases in both area and yield. Planted area is estimated to be 95.3 million acres and yield is projected t...

wheat

WASDE Wheat – June 2025

USDA’s outlook for 2025/26 U.S. wheat is for yields to average 51.6 bushels per acre, which is up 0.4 bushels from last year. Hard Red Winter and White account for most of the increase. Total 2025/26 domestic use is a record 977 million bushels, mostly on food use. Exports are projected l...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 25 Corn closed at $4.445/bushel, up $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Wheat closed at $5.4375/bushel, up $0.1725 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soybeans closed at $10.6975/bushel, up $0.275 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soymeal closed at $291.9/short ton, down $2.6 fro...

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