The CBOT was mostly lower to start the week with corn and wheat consolidating after a lackluster export report. Soybeans and soymeal sold off sharply as concerns rise about China’s demand for U.S. soybeans after Chinese President Xi secured a third consecutive term. Moreover, Xi’s apparent preference for state control of the economy could have worrying implications for multi-national businesses with agricultural operations (e.g., soybean crush plants) in China. Funds were net sellers for the day as long liquidation remains a growing theme amid the Northern Hemisphere harvest and growing global economic uncertainty. The only major ag markets to see strong gains on Monday were live cattle and feeder cattle futures, which jumped hi...
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.