Regional News Last week, Europe was facing widespread drought conditions and one of the driest 60-day springtime periods since the 1970’s. That drought and expectations for poor crop yields initially pushed wheat and grain prices higher. However, last week also brought broad precipitation coverage across Europe’s most important wheat-producing regions and the Black Sea. The rains were timely and largely sufficient to ease near-term drought concerns. Moreover, the current 1-7-day forecast calls for widespread, light showers across Europe with scattered, light showers across Ukraine. Southern Russia will likely receive modest precipitation as well. For now, the weather forecast seems to suggest the worst of the yield-damagi...
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets remain mixed with Capesize vessels seeing continued pressure from weaker demand while fixtures and rate strength gradually increases towards the smaller vessel classes. Tanker markets are pulling back from their recent highs as tonnage moves out of the Mid...
Inflation is back in the driver’s seat, and agriculture is getting pulled in two directions. A stronger dollar is pressuring grains despite fresh Chinese buying, while renewed Middle East attacks lift crude oil. Higher energy prices can support commodities, but they also raise expenses an...
Regional News European grocery stores have been targeted by cybersecurity attacks this week, with major retailers in France and the Netherlands affected. In France, major grocers, including Carrefour, Intermarché, and Coopérative U, all suffered attacks in which freezer and...
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.