The CBOT was mixed at mid-week amid a general lack of fresh news. Corn and soybeans both drifted lower in quiet trade and extended Tuesday’s pullback and reversal, respectively. Wheat futures pushed higher as the Ukraine export corridor agreement remains in jeopardy while U.S. basis levels are rising, especially for high-protein wheat. Funds were slight net sellers in corn and cautious sellers in soybeans, having been burned by the WASDE’s unexpectedly bullish implication, and were net buyers in wheat. The Ukrainian export corridor agreement is under fire this week as Russian and Turkish officials meet. On Wednesday, Russian President Putin said that “The issue has not been resolved” regarding his complaint th...
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.