World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

What Are Funds Doing Now? Forecasting the Missing CFTC Data

One of the key data points the ag (and broader) commodity markets are used to getting from the now-shuttered federal government is the weekly CFTC report, which shows how funds and commercials are positioned in the markets. The data is highly useful for myriad applications, and the current lack of information has certainly stressed markets.  To help address this issue, WPI recently completed an exercise in which we use price, volume, and open interest data to infer funds’ positions amid the CFTC data blackout. Further, the data can be used to estimate daily changes in fund positions, which can be especially useful in times of extreme market moves.  WPI’s system revolves around a state-space model estimated using the Ka...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Cattle are Hot Again, Grain Not so Much

Despite assurances from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the announcement this morning of nearly a half million tons of new soybean sales to China, the trade just doesn’t see the plausibility of a full 12 MMT of beans being bought near-term by Beijing. Particularly not when commitment...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4475/bushel, down $0.025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.3575/bushel, down $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.0525/bushel, down $0.1425 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $307.4/short ton, down...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

2026 Acreage Outlook: Expected Crop Shifts Diminishing

WPI’s second fall acreage forecasts for the 2026 U.S. crop year show producers executing a mild expansion of soybean acres that will not quite offset corn area losses while simultaneously reducing wheat area. Producers are also expected to keep minor crop acreage essentially unchanged, wh...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Cattle are Hot Again, Grain Not so Much

Despite assurances from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the announcement this morning of nearly a half million tons of new soybean sales to China, the trade just doesn’t see the plausibility of a full 12 MMT of beans being bought near-term by Beijing. Particularly not when commitment...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.4475/bushel, down $0.025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.3575/bushel, down $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.0525/bushel, down $0.1425 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $307.4/short ton, down...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

2026 Acreage Outlook: Expected Crop Shifts Diminishing

WPI’s second fall acreage forecasts for the 2026 U.S. crop year show producers executing a mild expansion of soybean acres that will not quite offset corn area losses while simultaneously reducing wheat area. Producers are also expected to keep minor crop acreage essentially unchanged, wh...

USMCA Review Underway

U.S. trade officials have started the formal review process for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), inviting public comment ahead of next year's renegotiation of the pact. Under the process, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will eventually be required to provide reports...

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From WPI Consulting

Infrastructure investment due diligence

On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.

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