World Perspectives
livestock

Cattle Market 2024 Retrospective and 2025 Outlook

This week marks the end of 2024, and the beginning of 2025.  Indeed, 2024 was a notable year in the cattle markets with implications to carry over into next year.  The U.S. cattle inventory entered 2024 at the lowest level since 1951, with the supply of feeder cattle outside feedlots at its lowest since the previous low in 2014, the trough of the current cattle cycle.Despite that, beef production in 2024 is estimated to be 27.035 billion pounds, which would be up from the 2023 production of 26.967 billion pounds, and well above the beginning of the year forecast of 25.99 billion pounds. Increased beef production came about from heavier slaughter weights and more time on feed, driven by cheaper feed. Also playing a role was the gro...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds

Historic Trends in USDA’s November Crop Production Report

Heading into next week’s (mercifully) planned USDA Crop Production and WASDE reports, a key focus of the markets has been forecasting the agency’s yield numbers.  Over the past five years, USDA has exhibited a tendency to reduce its forecast of the corn and soybean yield, harve...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Soybeans Rally as China Cuts Tariffs; Cattle Implosion Continues

Trade was once again at the forefront of the CBOT’s trade on Wednesday, with reductions in Chinese tariffs, rumors of Chinese buying, and a dimming political outlook for President Trump’s tariff regime being the most salient factors.  China announced today that it will cut tari...

IEEPA Alternatives; Transatlantic Machinations; Anti-Bubble in Ag

IEEPA Alternatives The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today challenging President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally set tariffs on ther countries. Mr. Trump characterized the High Court’s decision as involving, “lit...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds

Historic Trends in USDA’s November Crop Production Report

Heading into next week’s (mercifully) planned USDA Crop Production and WASDE reports, a key focus of the markets has been forecasting the agency’s yield numbers.  Over the past five years, USDA has exhibited a tendency to reduce its forecast of the corn and soybean yield, harve...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Soybeans Rally as China Cuts Tariffs; Cattle Implosion Continues

Trade was once again at the forefront of the CBOT’s trade on Wednesday, with reductions in Chinese tariffs, rumors of Chinese buying, and a dimming political outlook for President Trump’s tariff regime being the most salient factors.  China announced today that it will cut tari...

IEEPA Alternatives; Transatlantic Machinations; Anti-Bubble in Ag

IEEPA Alternatives The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today challenging President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally set tariffs on ther countries. Mr. Trump characterized the High Court’s decision as involving, “lit...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.3525/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.5475/bushel, up $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.3425/bushel, up $0.1275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $324.8/short ton, up $7.4 fr...

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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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