World Perspectives

Summary of Weekend Reads

Back by popular demand. Hang on to your seat, this is a whirlwind review of this past summer weekend’s beach reads. Taxes: One of former President Donald Trump’s signature accomplishments was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which his opponents derided for cutting the taxes of even rich people and reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent while adding full expensing of investments. Most on the left called it a bailout for the well-off, merely expanding inequality. Liberal economics commentator Noah Smith reflected this view in 2019 but now concedes the policy’s rationale. Higher income taxes might deter individuals from working as hard, but high corporate taxes discourage business investment. He...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Calm for the Day but Geopolitics Hint at Looming Volatility

The CBOT was solidly in the red on Wednesday while cattle futures regained some of their former strength. Markets had to process multiple headlines at the national/international political level, which led to some mild risk-off trade. Mostly, however, for grains, the looming WASDE dominated the...

Wheat from the Chaff; Europe Gets Squeezed

Wheat from the Chaff An agricultural meeting in Arkansas last week drew 400 to 500 farmers, a much larger group than expected at harvest time. They vented their angst over low commodity prices, high input costs, and consequently low profitability. One estimate from bankers is that farm bankrupt...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.17/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.15/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.2525/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $285.8/short ton, down $3.2...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Calm for the Day but Geopolitics Hint at Looming Volatility

The CBOT was solidly in the red on Wednesday while cattle futures regained some of their former strength. Markets had to process multiple headlines at the national/international political level, which led to some mild risk-off trade. Mostly, however, for grains, the looming WASDE dominated the...

Wheat from the Chaff; Europe Gets Squeezed

Wheat from the Chaff An agricultural meeting in Arkansas last week drew 400 to 500 farmers, a much larger group than expected at harvest time. They vented their angst over low commodity prices, high input costs, and consequently low profitability. One estimate from bankers is that farm bankrupt...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.17/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.15/bushel, down $0.0525 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.2525/bushel, down $0.06 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $285.8/short ton, down $3.2...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 10 September)

WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

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From WPI Consulting

Infrastructure investment due diligence

On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.

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