World Perspectives

The Decade’s Economic Changes in Three Charts

The decade is coming to a close, and what a decade it has been for the U.S. economy. It started with a recession, a major (Keynesian) stimulus policy package in the form of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, followed by a long term “little engine that could” plodding but positive economic expansion, and ended with a (supply side) stimulus agenda in the form of tax and regulatory cuts, all linked together by accommodative monetary policy.   For all 10 years, there has been a media megaphone that the economy was about to fall apart – for the first two-thirds of the decade most of the pessimism came from the political right (during the Obama years) and of late, it’s been coming from the political lef...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Absent Chinese Demand, Supply Dominates the Mood

Markets were over-weight on the Xi – Trump phone call this morning. The phone call went well enough but after it became clear there was no deal on ag or soybeans, the latter turned south. Beans and meal had traded higher overnight and at the open, but like all three wheats, closed on loss...

livestock

Cattle of Feed - Sep 2025

U.S. Cattle on Feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on September 1, 2025. The inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2024.  Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.78 million head, 10 percent below 2024.  Marketings of fed cattle du...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report Shows Record Low Marketings

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today at 3 p.m. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.1 million head, 99 percent of last year, as expected.    Placements and marketings came in slightly more bullish than the pre-report estimates, but still close, within one perc...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Absent Chinese Demand, Supply Dominates the Mood

Markets were over-weight on the Xi – Trump phone call this morning. The phone call went well enough but after it became clear there was no deal on ag or soybeans, the latter turned south. Beans and meal had traded higher overnight and at the open, but like all three wheats, closed on loss...

livestock

Cattle of Feed - Sep 2025

U.S. Cattle on Feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on September 1, 2025. The inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2024.  Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.78 million head, 10 percent below 2024.  Marketings of fed cattle du...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report Shows Record Low Marketings

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released today at 3 p.m. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.1 million head, 99 percent of last year, as expected.    Placements and marketings came in slightly more bullish than the pre-report estimates, but still close, within one perc...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.24/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.225/bushel, down $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.255/bushel, down $0.12 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284/short ton, down $0.7 fro...

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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.

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