Soybeans clearly surpass every other cropping choice based on current new crop prices, but there are many so-called minor crops that will also be impacted by the unexpected and lasting strength in soybean prices.Soybeans clearly surpass every other cropping choice based on current new crop prices and assuming good (but not record) yields. However, there are many so-called minor crops that will also be impacted by the unexpected and lasting strength in soybean prices. Following are comments on some of them. Barley This has been relegated to a minor crop over the past 10-15 years as the shorter season hybrid varieties of corn and soybeans have pushed it out of the rotation for many, if not most, northern Plains farmers. The North Dakota Sta...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Key Market Insights Geopolitical Limbo: Geopolitical risk remained a key driver across global commodity markets today. President Trump stated that the Iran memorandum of understanding is not yet final and warned that military action could resume if negotiations fail. Both sides continue w...
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.