World Perspectives
feed-grains farm-inputs

Tough Time to Make a Profit

There’s no question that big profits were made during the boom times and balance sheets looked wonderful. The problem is that money is now going out the door at an alarming rate, and those balance sheets can change quickly in this environment.It was easy to make money in the grain business from about 2007 through 2014. Markets were always going up, and U.S. crop production was good except for the poor corn yield in 2012. We’ve often written that when prices are high, margins are also high. That was the case across the U.S. and world grain trade. Every level of agriculture from the producer through the suppliers, handlers, exporters, processors, etc. had great years. Of course big profits also allowed management to become sloppy, and budgets...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: A Strong Close for the Week

Markets were higher in the overnight and were all green at the open this morning. By the end of the session, most remained higher except meal and HRS. It was mostly a bounce back Friday instead of a profit taking end of the week. Though there was generally some of the lowest volumes traded for...

Tariffs and the Value of the U.S. Dollar

The U.S. dollar has declined in value by 6.8 percent over the course of 2025, despite rising from its July lows. Typically, the value of the dollar strengthens during time of economic or geopolitical chaos, but not this year. Two major factors in the decline have been interest rates and Trump&r...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for August 1-7, 2025.  Wheat: Net sales of 722,800 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 2 percent from the previous week, but up 14 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 340,800 MT were down 49 percent from the previous week and 37 percen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: A Strong Close for the Week

Markets were higher in the overnight and were all green at the open this morning. By the end of the session, most remained higher except meal and HRS. It was mostly a bounce back Friday instead of a profit taking end of the week. Though there was generally some of the lowest volumes traded for...

Tariffs and the Value of the U.S. Dollar

The U.S. dollar has declined in value by 6.8 percent over the course of 2025, despite rising from its July lows. Typically, the value of the dollar strengthens during time of economic or geopolitical chaos, but not this year. Two major factors in the decline have been interest rates and Trump&r...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for August 1-7, 2025.  Wheat: Net sales of 722,800 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were down 2 percent from the previous week, but up 14 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 340,800 MT were down 49 percent from the previous week and 37 percen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Another Day in a Sea of Red

After a three-day rally, the soybean complex drifted lower, wheat continued its bearish decline, and corn miraculously escaped another day of damage.  The market now awaits crop tour results, which at their onset appear to be confirming USDA’s view of big yields. Barring a miraculous...

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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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