World Perspectives

Vilsack Drives a 2006 Ford Focus

USDA Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee today by a unanimous voice vote; his confirmation will soon move to the Senate floor, possibly this week. Yesterday, we wrote about electric vehicles and what that could do to liquid fuel consumption and thus ethanol. At today’s confirmation hearing, Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Vilsack’s home state of Iowa asked about the impact on fuel demand from the Biden Administration’s Executive Order calling for the federal government’s car fleet to add electric vehicles. She asked if USDA under Vilsack would be buying Telsa electric trucks, or E85 flex fuel Ford 350s.  Vilsack responded that it’s not “either or”...

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Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for September 5-11, 2025 Wheat: Net sales of 377,500 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were up 24 percent from the previous week, but down 12 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 774,800 MT were up noticeably from the previous week and up 19 percent...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Looking for Demand Amidst Ample Supplies

Grain and oilseed trading was mostly in the red today, with livestock markets trading higher. Volume was higher today in soymeal, but otherwise it was modest and even relatively low in corn. Markets tend to drift when lacking any major new directional inputs.  USDA’s weekly Export Sa...

biofuel energy

How the EPA’s Anti-Decision Will Affect Biofuels and Soyoil

In mythology or legends, the hero is obviously identified – the “good guy” standing up for justice, not compromising what is right, and displays courage or other noble and admired qualities. Standing in contrast – but not quite opposite – to the hero is the anti-he...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for September 5-11, 2025 Wheat: Net sales of 377,500 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were up 24 percent from the previous week, but down 12 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 774,800 MT were up noticeably from the previous week and up 19 percent...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Looking for Demand Amidst Ample Supplies

Grain and oilseed trading was mostly in the red today, with livestock markets trading higher. Volume was higher today in soymeal, but otherwise it was modest and even relatively low in corn. Markets tend to drift when lacking any major new directional inputs.  USDA’s weekly Export Sa...

biofuel energy

How the EPA’s Anti-Decision Will Affect Biofuels and Soyoil

In mythology or legends, the hero is obviously identified – the “good guy” standing up for justice, not compromising what is right, and displays courage or other noble and admired qualities. Standing in contrast – but not quite opposite – to the hero is the anti-he...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.2375/bushel, down $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.2425/bushel, down $0.04 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.375/bushel, down $0.0625 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $284.7/short ton, down $1...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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