World Perspectives
farm-inputs

War on Energy and Food

While the price of Brent crude is up 12 percent since Friday, fertilizer has increased 33 percent. Fertilizer values are priced to energy but now seem to be outpacing it. Crop nutrients have been hit by a trifecta of higher energy input costs, soaring demand and low supplies. Agricultural commodity futures were limit up again today and Canada’s Nutrien sees a prolonged disruption due to the war. Together, Russia and Belarus produce nearly 33 percent of global potash, Russia is the world’s top exporter of nitrogen, and it exports 12.7 percent of all phosphates. Moscow could short the market further if it so chooses. Because fertilizer represents 15 percent of production costs, U.S. fertilizer use per acre has declined as farmers...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Session and More Ahead

Corn and soybeans traded much the way they did in the overnight session, though wheat posted something of a reversal. There were flash sales of corn to Mexico and Colombia but no new soybeans sales, which was bearish.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is reportedly rising as a lead po...

soy-oilseeds

Soybean Crushing Margins Outlook for Q1 2025

With China back in the market for U.S. soybeans and soy product margins diverging from recent patterns, soybean crushing margins are again in a state of uncertainty. Volatility in CBOT board soybean crush margins has lessened over the past month with the soybean futures rally being almost equal...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4725/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.4025/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.195/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $311.2/short ton, down $0.1 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Session and More Ahead

Corn and soybeans traded much the way they did in the overnight session, though wheat posted something of a reversal. There were flash sales of corn to Mexico and Colombia but no new soybeans sales, which was bearish.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is reportedly rising as a lead po...

soy-oilseeds

Soybean Crushing Margins Outlook for Q1 2025

With China back in the market for U.S. soybeans and soy product margins diverging from recent patterns, soybean crushing margins are again in a state of uncertainty. Volatility in CBOT board soybean crush margins has lessened over the past month with the soybean futures rally being almost equal...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4725/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.4025/bushel, up $0.02 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.195/bushel, up $0.0375 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $311.2/short ton, down $0.1 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: CBOT Ends Lower as Slow Export News Overrides Black Sea Tensions

The CBOT was mostly lower at mid-week with the threat of Russian attacks on Ukrainian vessels and ag infrastructure taking a backseat to the lack of export news, particularly from China. Corn, wheat, and soybeans all settled in the red for the day with soybeans leading the downside move on anot...

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From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

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