World Perspectives
livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins fell over $100/head for the second straight week to hit - $151/head, which is among the worst margins in the past decade. The culprit for weaker margins was an $11/cwt pullback in the Choice cutout and other beef values while fed cattle prices were steady/slightly higher. Packers tried to delay purchases last week, but ended up having to pay for spot cattle to fill beef orders. As margins weaken again, the threat of suspended weekend kills and reduced slaughter rates increases as a threat to fed cattle values. Feedlot profit margins for last week’s placements turned $134/head higher ...

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Market Commentary: Grains and Livestock Take Diverging Paths

Grain and oilseed markets pulled back to start the week after favorable showers fell across the U.S. over the weekend. The moisture revived crop prospects and offered a meaningful buffer ahead of some heat that will build over parts of the Midwest this week. The weather outlook was enough to st...

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WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 21 July)

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...

Ten Days and Counting

Outside markets are counting on trade deals or another TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) come 1 August. Since the 7 July announcement of the small window to negotiate trade deals with Washington, The Dow is down 0.17 percent, but the S&P 500 is up 1.22 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq has...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grains and Livestock Take Diverging Paths

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 21 July)

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...

Ten Days and Counting

Outside markets are counting on trade deals or another TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) come 1 August. Since the 7 July announcement of the small window to negotiate trade deals with Washington, The Dow is down 0.17 percent, but the S&P 500 is up 1.22 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq has...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.2225/bushel, down $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.4225/bushel, down $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.26/bushel, down $0.0975 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284.8/short ton, down $4...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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