Is China Preparing to Reduce Total Soybean Imports? USDA is currently forecasting China’s 2018/19 soybean imports at 103 MMT, up from 97 MMT in 2017/18. However, some trade sources have indicated the Chinese government has told importers they should be prepared for a much smaller volume than last year because of the upcoming higher tariff on U.S. soybeans, and one indicated it has advised them to prepare for a 20 percent reduction. However, the Chinese government has not confirmed this. While a cut in its soybean imports is certainly possible, a 20 percent decrease would cause major problems for China’s swine, poultry and aquaculture sectors. Such action could boost their demand for rapeseed meal and other mid-protein sources,...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
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.