Compared with 2014/15, this year’s volume of U.S. soymeal exports has not been very good. However, it would be even worse if not for the big increase to two particular markets. Separately, the current ship lineup in the Gulf for soybean loadings could be indicative of how those exports finish in 2015/16. Limited Expansion Forecast for Brazil‘s Soy Area Brazil’s soybean planted area will increase only 2 percent to 33.9 million hectares (83.8 million acres) in the upcoming summer cropping season versus 33.2 million hectares (82.04 million acres) in 2015, according to the average forecast of local analysts surveyed by Reuters. The range of their projections was 33.5-34.3 million hectares. Based on an average yield of 3.062 MT/hectare (45.53...
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.