World Perspectives

Drip, Drip, Drop; Populist Modi

Drip, Drip, Drop USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue told his audience at Michigan State University this week that the Trump administration’s trade policy approach will not sabotage the agriculture sector and that it will not “be a pawn in this issue.” With China’s announcement of 25 percent tariffs on American soybeans and other agricultural products, it is a pawn and it is sabotaging the industry. This fact was acknowledged by his subsequent assurance that the sector would be compensated. Compensation will be a curious construct. The problem in international trade is not just the dumping of steel or the stealing of intellectual property but asymmetry across a wide range of policies. Agriculture gets hurt worse by the Tru...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Major Influences Yield Higher Day/Week

Markets moved higher today, with larger volumes trading in corn and winter wheat. While fundamentals remain broadly unchanged currently, there were several factors influencing prices. Winterkill: An outsized winter storm, possibly including ice, is descending on the U.S. winter wheat crop. Whil...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.5 million head, or 97 percent of last year. Placements were higher than forecast, and marketings were near pre-report estimates. This was the quarterly report showing steers and heifers on feed...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.305/bushel, up $0.065 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.295/bushel, up $0.14 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.6775/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $299.9/short ton, up $3.7 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Major Influences Yield Higher Day/Week

Markets moved higher today, with larger volumes trading in corn and winter wheat. While fundamentals remain broadly unchanged currently, there were several factors influencing prices. Winterkill: An outsized winter storm, possibly including ice, is descending on the U.S. winter wheat crop. Whil...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.5 million head, or 97 percent of last year. Placements were higher than forecast, and marketings were near pre-report estimates. This was the quarterly report showing steers and heifers on feed...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.305/bushel, up $0.065 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.295/bushel, up $0.14 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.6775/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $299.9/short ton, up $3.7 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for January 9-15, 2026. Wheat: Net sales of 618,100 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were up noticeably from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 372,400 MT were up 23 percent from the previous week, but down 3 percent from the prior...

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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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