World Perspectives
livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins abandoned their two-week streak of positive numbers and fell $102/head last week to -$47. The move was expected as the Choice cutout was steady/weaker across the week while fed cattle prices jumped $8-10/cwt higher. The weaker margins are still not as bad as recent history, however, and are in-line with values recorded for most of 2024. WPI does not have evidence of this, but our feeling, based on conversations with industry players, is that economist-estimated margins of -$30 to -40/head are actually breakeven or slightly profitable. The reasoning is that such margins are likely within the range where plants can either make minor tweaks to labor and staffing or procurement strategies and turn a profit. Or, packers&rsquo...

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Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.1975/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.38/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.0175/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $279.5/short ton, down $2...

Consumer Price Index and Employment Reports

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the June CPI this morning. The CPI increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in June, after rising 0.1 percent in May. The CPI is at its highest since January of this year. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index increased 2.7 percen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Posts Bullish Reversal while Soy, Wheat Slip Lower

Monday’s trade at the CBOT was interesting with corn, soybeans, and wheat all rallying off fresh contract or selloff lows overnight, but only corn holding onto those gains by the closing bell. For corn futures, the market seemed to be more focused on the USDA’s ending stocks figure...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.1975/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.38/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.0175/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $279.5/short ton, down $2...

Consumer Price Index and Employment Reports

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the June CPI this morning. The CPI increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in June, after rising 0.1 percent in May. The CPI is at its highest since January of this year. Over the last 12 months, the all-items index increased 2.7 percen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Posts Bullish Reversal while Soy, Wheat Slip Lower

Monday’s trade at the CBOT was interesting with corn, soybeans, and wheat all rallying off fresh contract or selloff lows overnight, but only corn holding onto those gains by the closing bell. For corn futures, the market seemed to be more focused on the USDA’s ending stocks figure...

States’ Rights and Hypocrisy; Purple Hair, Not Purple Food

States’ Rights and Hypocrisy Texas has become the seventh state to prohibit food products cultured from animal cells. Another half dozen states are considering legislative restrictions on these products, often at the behest of the agriculture sector. Bloomberg produced the map below on st...

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From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

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