World Perspectives
livestock farm-inputs

Can Technology Play a Role in Organic Production?

This week the National Organic Standards Board discussed emerging ag production systems and their role in organic agriculture – just as they have since 2002.Ever-developing technology poses ever-changing questions about agriculture, policy and regulation. Consider the relatively new boom in indoor farming, also referred to as “vertical,” “stacked” or “controlled environment.” Can such systems be certified to produce organic food? This was the topic of USDA’s National Organic Standards Board (NSOB) webinar yesterday in preparation for its October semi-annual meeting, and it was convened specifically to “discuss the development of proposals on aeroponics/bioponics/hydroponics....”The following terms refer to the medium surrounding the roots o...

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livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins fell for the fifth straight week and remained in negative territory for the second week in a row. Margins are estimated at -$118/head, pressured by a modest dip in the Choice cutout and a $3 increase in fed cattle prices. The drop credit also weakened for the sixth consecuti...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Turnaround Tuesday for Grains; Soybeans Sag; New Highs for Cattle

Corn and wheat found technical support Tuesday that created turnarounds on their respective charts and, in the case of wheat, formed bullish key reversals. News of smaller corn yields in the Midwest and strong export sales performance last week helped boost corn and wheat values following Monda...

livestock

The Strange Effects of Screwworm

For the first six months of 2025, cattle imports from Mexico are down 73.1 percent due to restrictions from the discovery of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico. From January to July 2024 there were 853,976 head imported into the U.S. from Mexico, but in 2025 that volume over the same time peri...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins fell for the fifth straight week and remained in negative territory for the second week in a row. Margins are estimated at -$118/head, pressured by a modest dip in the Choice cutout and a $3 increase in fed cattle prices. The drop credit also weakened for the sixth consecuti...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Turnaround Tuesday for Grains; Soybeans Sag; New Highs for Cattle

Corn and wheat found technical support Tuesday that created turnarounds on their respective charts and, in the case of wheat, formed bullish key reversals. News of smaller corn yields in the Midwest and strong export sales performance last week helped boost corn and wheat values following Monda...

livestock

The Strange Effects of Screwworm

For the first six months of 2025, cattle imports from Mexico are down 73.1 percent due to restrictions from the discovery of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico. From January to July 2024 there were 853,976 head imported into the U.S. from Mexico, but in 2025 that volume over the same time peri...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.13/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.0025/bushel, up $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.065/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $274.3/short ton, up $0.2 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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