World Perspectives
livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins fell $68/head last week and marked the third straight week of declines to end near -$220, which is back among the worst margins in the past decade. The culprit for weaker margins was an $6/cwt pullback in the Choice cutout and broader beef markets while fed cattle prices rallied to new all-time highs. Packers were relatively aggressive buying cattle for 1-14-day delivery last week, which could reduce spot purchases this week and give cattle markets an opportunity to decline. Such a move would improve margins slightly, but packers are staring at an outlook ...

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Summary of Futures

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn, Soy Firm on Bull Spreading (and Exports?); Cattle Hit New Highs

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Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.22/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.0725/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.295/bushel, up $0.075 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $278/short ton, up $1.1 from yes...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

U.S. 2025/26 Crop Balance Sheets Growing Heavy

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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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