World Perspectives
livestock

Cattle on Feed: Surprise (Kind of, but Not Really) on Placements

USDA released its monthly Cattle on Feed report today showing a total inventory of cattle and calves in feed yards of 11.6 million head on 1 October. That was in-line with pre-report expectations and is the second highest October inventory on record – last year was the highest. Marketings were in line with pre-report estimates as well. However, the report also contained some bullish news – placements were lower than expected. The pre-report estimate is based on the Olympic average (i.e., eliminating the high and the low before calculating the average) of the various analysts’ forecasts. The range of estimates was wide, with 104 percent on the top end, and 98 percent on the low end. There was a plausible case to be made...

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soy-oilseeds

Oilseed Highlights

The Market Soybean futures have largely been waiting for the January WASDE report, which USDA will publish on today, with traders specifically focusing on the South American supply outlooks. The dry weather in Argentina has been largely offset by favorable conditions in Brazil, leaving the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Big Nothingburger

It was a good thing that futures markets closed early today given that there were very few inputs to guide movements. The U.S. government was closed in observance of President Jimmy Carter’s memorial, so reports like weekly Export Sales are delayed until tomorrow. Wall Street and the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.56/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.34/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $9.99/bushel, up $0.045 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $299.3/short ton, down $1.5 from yeste...

soy-oilseeds

Oilseed Highlights

The Market Soybean futures have largely been waiting for the January WASDE report, which USDA will publish on today, with traders specifically focusing on the South American supply outlooks. The dry weather in Argentina has been largely offset by favorable conditions in Brazil, leaving the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Big Nothingburger

It was a good thing that futures markets closed early today given that there were very few inputs to guide movements. The U.S. government was closed in observance of President Jimmy Carter’s memorial, so reports like weekly Export Sales are delayed until tomorrow. Wall Street and the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.56/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.34/bushel, down $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $9.99/bushel, up $0.045 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $299.3/short ton, down $1.5 from yeste...

livestock

Livestock Roundup: Market Conditions Transitioning from 2024 to 2025

Last year, cattle markets were driven by tight supplies of cattle, heavy carcass weights, low cow culling rates, higher input costs, more imports of feeder cattle, and the detection of New World Screwworm in Mexico in November. All were factors in record prices. The focus now turns to 2025, and...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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