World Perspectives
wheat

Too Good to be True

A second impact analysis on the EU’s Green Deal targets for agriculture has now been reviewed and still the policy is hung up as policymakers debate its future. Like the first go-around, EU analysts insist that a 20 percent reduction in fertilizer use, cutting pesticide use in half and setting aside 10 percent of land for biodiversity will not disrupt food security, production, or prices. Perhaps it is a case of when it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Over-application of inputs can be a problem, particularly in less sophisticated farm operations where the interpretation may be that if a little bit is good, more must be better. But input costs deduct from profits and more competitive operators tend to use a cost-benef...

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Market Commentary: Geopolitics Skews the Week

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Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.3025/bushel, down $0.0475 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.2975/bushel, down $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $11.1525/bushel, up $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $303.6/short ton, up $0.4...

Transportation and Export Report for 4 February 2025

U.S. grain transportation markets remain skewed by the impacts of cold weather and low water levels on the Mississippi River System, which have pushed spot CIF and FOB values sharply higher. Internationally, the recovery in ocean freight rates continues, with strong demand in the Atlantic while...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Geopolitics Skews the Week

It was another day of big volume in the soy complex. While soybeans closed higher for a fourth session, corn and wheat failed to follow, or perhaps their drag pulled soybeans back to fundamental reality. There are still no new export sales.  The Chinese are smart, and if they intend to buy...

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Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.3025/bushel, down $0.0475 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.2975/bushel, down $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $11.1525/bushel, up $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $303.6/short ton, up $0.4...

Transportation and Export Report for 4 February 2025

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Soybean Spillover Rides Another Day

There was high-volume trading in soybeans again today after hitting record levels yesterday. The enthusiasm carried over to corn and soymeal as well, and there was good volume trading in soyoil contracts. There is understandable skepticism that China would pay 80 cents/bushel more for U.S. soyb...

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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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