World Perspectives

Policy Opportunities and Risks

Two new reports out this week present government policymakers with informative but confusing insights on public perceptions. The United Nations issued its seventh “World Happiness Report,” and the OECD issued a first “Risks that Matter” tome. The volumes rely heavily on personal opinion surveys in various countries. The U.N.’s report developed out of frustration by countries whose economies grew too slow to continue reliance on gross domestic product (GDP) as the metric for satisfaction in life. Since money can’t buy love, income inequality is too narrow as a measurement. Bruce Meyer at the University of Chicago concurs that income is a poor guide, especially since consumption inequality has declined for...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn, Soy Firm on Bull Spreading (and Exports?); Cattle Hit New Highs

The CBOT was mostly firmer on Wednesday with rumors circulating that export business is getting done – perhaps aggressively – without the USDA to publish the daily “flash” export sales report. Bull spreading in corn and soybeans likely belies this activity, as does the r...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.22/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.0725/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.295/bushel, up $0.075 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $278/short ton, up $1.1 from yes...

Animal Welfare Metrics; Transatlantic NTB’s; More Elegant Trade Rules

Animal Welfare Metrics The U.S. Justice Department is suing California over its Prop 12 animal welfare standards adversely impacting hog and poultry producers in other states. For some, the suit is a rejection of federalism (states rights) even as the Trump Administration seeks to defang Washin...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn, Soy Firm on Bull Spreading (and Exports?); Cattle Hit New Highs

The CBOT was mostly firmer on Wednesday with rumors circulating that export business is getting done – perhaps aggressively – without the USDA to publish the daily “flash” export sales report. Bull spreading in corn and soybeans likely belies this activity, as does the r...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.22/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.0725/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.295/bushel, up $0.075 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $278/short ton, up $1.1 from yes...

Animal Welfare Metrics; Transatlantic NTB’s; More Elegant Trade Rules

Animal Welfare Metrics The U.S. Justice Department is suing California over its Prop 12 animal welfare standards adversely impacting hog and poultry producers in other states. For some, the suit is a rejection of federalism (states rights) even as the Trump Administration seeks to defang Washin...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

U.S. 2025/26 Crop Balance Sheets Growing Heavy

WPI’s latest forecasts for the U.S. corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum markets in 2025/26 are increasingly leaning bearish due to expected larger supplies and, except for corn, weaker demand. China’s continued absence from the soybean and sorghum markets is a major headwind for the a...

Image
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.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up