World Perspectives

How Tax Reform Could Drive Future Politics

The U.S. Senate passed its tax reform proposal at about 2 a.m. (EST) on Saturday. Informal conference committee talks began as quickly as later that same day. The official conference process got underway today with both the House and Senate appointing their negotiators. When finished, the tax reform legislation will obviously have a major impact on the economy and budgetary issues. WPI has covered some of its key provisions and even the procedural budgetary effects, but there will also likely be major political repercussions.  The tax bill passed the Senate by a vote of 51-49. Only one of the Senate’s 52-member Republican majority, retiring Tennessee Senator Bob Corker, did not support it. Two weeks earlier, the House passed its...

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Livestock Round Up: Preview of Feedlot Placements and Changing Canada Dynamics

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Market Commentary: Geopolitics, Energy, and Macro Correlations Shape Agricultural Markets

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Export Sales and Shipments for February 20-26, 2026. Wheat: Net sales of 203,100 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 16 percent from the previous week and 42 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 348,900 MT were down 35 percent from the previous week and 24 percent fro...

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Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.4375/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.6825/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.695/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $309.9/short ton, down $...

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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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