The CBOT was once again mixed with wheat futures dropping to fresh, two-year lows after data from Egypt’s latest tender showed continued weakness in global values. Corn and soybeans, on the other hand, found a bit of strength on commercial buying and, for soybeans, expectations of tighter carry-in for the new crop year. The market is waiting for Friday’s Grain Stocks report, which will have a pronounced influence on the markets. Recent history suggests a near-even probability of a bullish or bearish report (as measured by the deviation of actual stocks data from pre-report estimates), which has kept trade and positioning somewhat muted this year. For the day, funds were strong net sellers in wheat and expanded short positions 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.