Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Grain markets in the MENA region are quiet due to the Musim EID holidays that extends through 9 June. The FAO forecast Egypt to have above average grain crops in 2025, much of which is due to improved availability of high yi...
New all-time highs in fed cattle prices caused beef packer margins to collapse again last week. Beef packer margins fell $97/head to -$299 – a new all-time low – as cattle procurement costs vastly exceeded beef sales revenue. The margin weakness comes near the seasonal peak in beef...
Except for the livestock futures, which all hit new contract or record highs, the CBOT was mostly lower to start the week with favorable weather and bearish chart conditions driving the sentiment. The index fund roll ticked off its second of five days on Monday, so spreads and volumes patterns...
Trade Negotiations Ramp Up The big story involves U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators meeting in London this week. Discussions lasted three hours today and resume tomorrow but no one sees agriculture being involved in the talks. Instead, the focus is on export controls where Beijing is limiting...
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.