Grain and soy prices firmed overnight, in part because USDA dropped weekly condition ratings for corn and soybeans further than the trade expected. Another element of support came from FGIS export inspections showing that demand for soybeans and corn remains at a high pace despite trade conflict woes. Soybean inspections totaled 23.3 million bushels last week, nearly twice as much as the same week last year. Soybeans traded up about 4 cents overnight with corn more than 3 cents higher and Chicago wheat up 6 cents. Buying escalated after the recess from commercials and funds alike, and trading was active. Prices did not exactly run away, but the market closed solidly green except for soymeal. Corn closed 3.5-4.5 cents higher, soybeans were u...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
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.