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...
The corn and soy complex closed higher, with the wheat market mixed, as winter wheat closed up but spring wheat and livestock ended lower. Part of the strength for corn and soybeans may have been a weather premium, as crop planting has started out fast but warm weather has been slow to develop...
Real GDP grew at a 2 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2026, slightly below the consensus expectation of 2.3 percent but above the 0.5 percent growth in Q4 2025. The GDP number matches the average annualized pace of growth since the peak back in late 2007, right before the Financial P...
Reflect for a moment on what you eat. There is a lot of advice out there in the ether about what you should eat, but really, what do you currently eat and how much? The good people at the USDA have some data for you, to help you answer that question. USDA says that we eat quite a bit of meat. L...
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.