World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

What Is Wrong With Being Big?

Farming is like any other business that produces and sells goods and services. Its profitability depends on maximizing productivity, efficiency and economies of scale.We grew up in eastern South Dakota a long time ago when agriculture was not just the leading industry in the area, it was the only industry. The town we lived in was so big that it had two country grain elevators. There was an additional elevator in a tiny town about eight miles to the west and one in another very tiny town about 12 miles east. Within a 50-mile radius of where we lived there were at least 20 country elevators. The area was served by two rail lines. An east/west line ran through our town as well as a north/south line. Farms in our county probably averaged less...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: An Appearance of Weakness

Bullish sentiments have been driving the CBOT higher since last week’s U.S.-China trade talks, but bears finally made an appearance on Tuesday. The CBOT saw the entire soy complex pullback as China has not confirmed anything about what the Trump administration claims was agreed to in Sout...

Supreme Court to Hear Tariff Case Tomorrow

The Supreme Court will hear the case on President Trump’s tariffs tomorrow, and leading into the court session the White House is exuding confidence that the Court will uphold the President’s tariff powers under the 1977 International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). However,...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.315/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.5025/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.215/bushel, down $0.1275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $317.4/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: An Appearance of Weakness

Bullish sentiments have been driving the CBOT higher since last week’s U.S.-China trade talks, but bears finally made an appearance on Tuesday. The CBOT saw the entire soy complex pullback as China has not confirmed anything about what the Trump administration claims was agreed to in Sout...

Supreme Court to Hear Tariff Case Tomorrow

The Supreme Court will hear the case on President Trump’s tariffs tomorrow, and leading into the court session the White House is exuding confidence that the Court will uphold the President’s tariff powers under the 1977 International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA). However,...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.315/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.5025/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.215/bushel, down $0.1275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $317.4/short ton, down $3...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Middle East, Mediterranean, and Africa Regional Analysis

Mediterranean/Middle East/North Africa/Africa – MEA Region Iran continues to be the largest importer of Brazil maize as total maize exports reach 23.8 MMT. Iran has imported about 4.7 MMT followed by Egypt at just over 4.0 MMT, Saudi Arabia with 1.1 MMT, Morocco at 900,000 MT and Algeria...

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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.

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