World Perspectives

Bilateral Bungling; Inexplicable Productivity; Geopolitical Outlook

Bilateral Bungling The WTO Ministerial starts this weekend in Buenos Aires, but no major outcome is expected since the U.S. is supposedly focused on bilateral agreements. However, that focus doesn’t seem to be in much better shape than the WTO process. Japan just completed a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the EU, something that will help European farmers ship more of their products into Busan, but Tokyo has rebuffed the Trump administration’s request for trade negotiations. Then there is South Korea, which has an FTA with the U.S. However, that is littered with high tariffs on beef, rice and other products. Yet representatives from Seoul are trying to convince Washington that the status quo is good while deflecting attention t...

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China Market Analysis

Beef China’s new import safeguard on beef continues to stir the market. Its largest impact is on the biggest supplier of protein, Brazil. Suppliers in that country say they will have to reduce production and slaughter capacity. Meanwhile, Ireland is pleased that Beijing has lifted a ban t...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Bears in Control Again; Trump-Iran-China Triangle Sinks Soybeans

Bears were once again in control of the CBOT on Tuesday as the effects of the January WASDE continue to ripple through markets. Tuesday’s trade also saw the bearish effects of rising U.S. political tensions after President Trump announced the implementation of a 25 percent tariff on any c...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.1975/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.105/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.3875/bushel, down $0.1025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $291.6/short ton, down...

China Market Analysis

Beef China’s new import safeguard on beef continues to stir the market. Its largest impact is on the biggest supplier of protein, Brazil. Suppliers in that country say they will have to reduce production and slaughter capacity. Meanwhile, Ireland is pleased that Beijing has lifted a ban t...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Bears in Control Again; Trump-Iran-China Triangle Sinks Soybeans

Bears were once again in control of the CBOT on Tuesday as the effects of the January WASDE continue to ripple through markets. Tuesday’s trade also saw the bearish effects of rising U.S. political tensions after President Trump announced the implementation of a 25 percent tariff on any c...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.1975/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.105/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.3875/bushel, down $0.1025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $291.6/short ton, down...

livestock

WASDE Livestock

USDA’s World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report was released yesterday, the first of the year. Beef production is still down compared to 2024, but projections were raised for 2026. Beef production was raised as heavier slaughter weights more than offset the reduction i...

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From WPI Consulting

Illuminating the value of technical research

On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.

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