Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA: Morocco has removed the import duty on soft wheat and durum wheat until 15 June. The Morocco Ag Ministry reports that soft wheat stocks will cover three months normal consumption but a sudden jump in demand related to COVID-19 will reduce stocks. Also from Morocco, the government is distributing about 250,000 MT of subsidized barley to farmers in areas that have been hit by drought. The farmers will pay 2 dirham per kilogram which is about $200/MT, well below the current local market price. Buyers of Russian wheat in the MEA region may have to face wheat export limits by Russia. The government is said to be considering setting export limits due to a very rapid rise in wheat...
Grains posted strong gains today, putting the bulls firmly in the driver’s seat. There was no shortage of fuel for the move, with three W’s driving the rally: weather, war and worry. Weather: Cooler temperatures are temporarily easing stress across the Northern Plains and Midwest, b...
Key Takeaways: Global and U.S. cotton demand has struggled since the post-COVID-19 pandemic surge, which has left cotton prices drifting lower in the U.S. The war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, along with their impact on global energy markets, could boost cotton demand...
Russian Grain Markets: 13–17 July 2026 New-crop trading dominated the Russian grain market during the week as old-crop business largely came to an end. Most transactions shifted to new-crop supplies, establishing new price ranges across the market. Bearish sentiment prevailed across most...
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.