The CBOT seemed to enter a consolidation/congestion phase on Tuesday as traders are looking forward to next week’s February WASDE. Many are looking for USDA to make adjustments to the South American production forecasts, but with private firms generally increasing expectations WPI doubts the agency will make major revisions until March. Corn futures were mostly steady, trading an inside day on the charts but sticking close to their contract highs. Soybeans and wheat continue to weaken in light trading volume and price action is increasingly worrisome for soybean bulls. Funds were modest net sellers on the day, though trading volumes were anything but interesting. The South American weather forecasts are highly variable with thi...
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.