The February and March USDA WASDE (supply and demand) estimates rarely make any significant changes as they come during a dead spot in world markets and growing seasons. The only time they might be bullish is when their release occurs amid a severe weather problem in Brazil and Argentina. That is not the case today, although Brazil’s soybean crop is around 10 percent smaller than expected at the time it was being planted. These reports can be slightly bearish if demand estimates for U.S. grains and oilseeds are reduced due to a slower-than-expected/needed export pace, which was the situation with today’s WASDE. USDA lowered the forecasts for corn and wheat exports as well as for corn used in ethanol production. The results were...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.