The much-anticipated Grain Stocks report failed to match expectations in terms of supply data, but more than exceeded hopes for an exciting day of trade. The USDA’s headline report – the Grain Stocks as of 1 September – and the Small Grains summary report sent wheat and the soy complex plunging lower with all three classes of wheat posting fresh contract lows. Corn futures joined in on the selling despite a relatively bullish Stocks report but could not withstand the onslaught of spillover selling and expectations for 2023 corn supplies. Even the livestock markets joined in on the bearishness, though for different reasons, as Thursday’s Hogs and Pigs report was bearish that market and cattle futures were lower on mac...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.