Wheat, corn and soybean markets are behaving like the corn and soybean harvests, continuing to slog along as if stuck in the mud. Perhaps that is the way it should be at this point in the marketing year. The U.S. still has 70 percent or so of what appears to be record corn and soybean crops still to be harvested. It’s raining across much of the southern Plains as the 2019 hard red winter wheat crop is being planted, and current estimates suggest those plantings could be 5-10 percent above last year. Meanwhile, the trade war with China shows no sign of being resolved. Coupled with record world soybean supplies, that will make it very tough to find a soybean rally in the near or even distant future. Russia continues to hit almost every...
What You Need to Know Today: As was widely expected, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.75–4.00 percent, its first rate increase since 2023, as policymakers respond to persistent inflation pressures. The Fed also signaled that additi...
Key Takeaways: USDA data access is equal; the ability to use it is not. Larger operations can afford experts who turn public reports into business decisions. Analytical capacity is the true advantage. Forecasts matter only when converted into profit, purchasing, and risk-management decisions...
Russian Grain Markets: 7–11 September 2026 During the first week of September, the Russian grain market remained volatile but predominantly bearish. Among the few commodities that continued to show a bullish trend was rye, which is in short supply this year and has few offers available. I...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.