World Perspectives
feed-grains softs

Sweet is Sweet; Inequality

Although income inequality was heightened by the Great Recession and has statistically tempered, it remains a major policy concern. The outcome of research by McKinsey & Company about its cause will not please everyone. Sweet is Sweet McDonald’s, the world’s largest hamburger fast food chain, announced that it would switch from high fructose corn syrup to sugar in its hamburger buns and also stop using milk produced with rbST supplementation. It included the helpful caveat that there has been “no significant difference shown between milk from RbST-treated and non-rbST-treated cows.” The company could have added that the one scientific consensus is that over-consumption of sweeteners, whether the source is corn, beets or cane, creates...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 27 April)

Update for 6 April 2025: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Friday’s CFTC report showed funds adding to net long position across the major ag futures contracts after a two week break as deteriorating negotiations in the Middle East and the emergence of weather concerns triggered risk-on buying. Funds bought 40,000 contracts (4.7 percent) to their...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.6925/bushel, up $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.2975/bushel, up $0.13 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.92/bushel, up $0.135 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $327.8/short ton, up $8.7 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 27 April)

Update for 6 April 2025: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Friday’s CFTC report showed funds adding to net long position across the major ag futures contracts after a two week break as deteriorating negotiations in the Middle East and the emergence of weather concerns triggered risk-on buying. Funds bought 40,000 contracts (4.7 percent) to their...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 26 Corn closed at $4.6925/bushel, up $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.2975/bushel, up $0.13 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.92/bushel, up $0.135 from yesterday's close.  Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $327.8/short ton, up $8.7 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grain Markets’ Two Key Factors Increasingly Bullish

The big picture for commodity markets is that imperfect weather and the lack of a peace deal in the Middle East are mandating that traders keep risk premia in prices. All other developments in ag futures stem in some way from these two factors, though the details of how, exactly, these factors...

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From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

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