The overnight session saw grain and soy prices generally firmer in something of a recovery from Wednesday’s lingering weakness. Soybeans and MGEX spring wheat were the leaders, trading up 6-8 cents and about 7 cents, respectively. KC HRW was about 4 cents higher with Chicago wheat gaining just 2 cents. Corn managed only a minimal gain of about a penny. During the day session, soybeans managed to hold onto their early gain. They were supported by the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) report that its members processed 153.7 million bushels of soybeans during February, a record for that month and 5-6 million bushels more than trade guesses. Such volume suggests that the total crush for the month will be around 153 million b...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
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.