The CBOT waivered again on Tuesday with corn and wheat posting losses for the day while soybeans firmed once again. News that China is likely to soon approve an agreement on phytosanitary conditions to import corn from Brazil put corn on the defensive for the day. Moreover, corn and wheat both broke below last week’s lows and/or technical support, which further contributed to the day’s selling. Early weakness in U.S. equities and other macro-markets also kept the CBOT on the defensive with traders liquidating some positions ahead of the coming three-day weekend. Bear grain/soy spreading was again popular, though volumes were quiet overall as traders are largely in “wait and see” mode. For the day, funds are th...
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.