The president of the Russian Grain Union said Russia's current financial problems may negatively impact the planting of grains. Ukraine has planted early spring grains and leguminous crops on 90 percent of its target area as of 7 April 2014. Russian Grain Markets Planting Update Russian farmers planted spring grain crops on 1.9 million hectares (3.6 percent of the target) as of 8 April 2014. Market Trends: 31 March–4 April 2014 During the week in review, grain market prices continued to increase. GEOGRAPHICALLY: 3rd grade soft milling wheat prices kept rising in the South and Ural (+$6/MT), Central (+$6.50/MT), Volga Valley (+$4/MT), Black Soil (+$2.50/MT) and Siberia (+$9.40/MT).4th grade soft milling wheat prices continued to incre...
What You Need to Know Today: Oil prices surged today following reports of tanker attacks off the coast of Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebels and renewed U.S. threats to escalate military strikes against Iran, heightening concerns over potential disruptions to Middle East energy supplies. Brent crud...
Key Takeaways: The latest UN data shows solid progress reducing global hunger and food insecurity. The geography of hunger-affected people has shifted substantially, however, and Africa is now the most affected region. To understand why hunger patterns have shifted and what policy option...
Key Takeaways: The situation in the Arab Gulf is little changed this week, which is to say it is a day-by-day – and sometimes hour-by-hour – judgment call as to what is or will happen. There are some vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but transits are a fraction of what they...
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.