World Perspectives

China Purchasing Loophole; China Deal Worsens Transatlantic; USMCA Victory

China Purchasing Loophole First, it is important to reemphasize the point made in yesterday’s report that the key achievement in the Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China is in the technical language. Unlike any other trade agreement, this one contains explicit contractual terms for China’s procedures rather than just high-level principles. For example, Beijing has two years to approve new GMO traits (currently takes 5–7 years), it can’t require its own studies, inquiries must be science-based and unrelated to cultivation issues, etc. The fine print is always said to be important but that is especially true in this agreement.  The trade has been skeptical about the commitment by China to specific pur...

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Market Commentary: Cattle Hit New Records while Wheat Hits New Lows; Planting in Focus

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Canadian Elections: Canada is going to the polls today. Earlier in the year, the Liberal Party was out of favor in Canada, but Trump’s talk of the 51st State has changed the dynamics of the election. Canada has six time zones, so the final results will be in late tonight.  SCP Safegu...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 28 April)

Update for 28 April 2025: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where o...

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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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