Soybeans Market Overview The market was slow last week with Chinese demand focused last Thursday on buying U.S. soybeans for July and August shipment, which traded at 155 and 160 CNF, respectively. All purchases, estimated by analysts to total 1.5-2MMT, were made basis July futures and procured from the U.S. Gulf (USG). It was interesting to see China buying from the U.S. again as last week’s trades were well above offers in the Brazilian market. USG beans typically trade at parity or a 10-cent discount to Brazil’s due to their lower oil content (approximately 1 percent on average). The lower oil content implies a lower yield for crushing plants. With soyoil the most highly-valued component of the soybean crush, it’s im...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
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.