The markets are bullish and global food prices are rising but stocks of wheat, corn, and soybeans are ample. Over the past 40 years, the world’s population has increased by 70 percent. Over that same period, global ending stocks of corn are up 127 percent, surplus wheat is up 181 percent and while soybeans seem preciously tight right now, ending stocks are up 467 percent. Granted, stocks relative to use tell a different story but in contrast to the past, the world has larger reserves. Notably, the U.S. was a major holder of surplus grain 40 years ago but has ceded that role to the rest of the world, and especially to China. Most democracies do not have centrally planned reserves, though India seeks a similar role. India has not exper...
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.