World Perspectives

Recent North America Analysis

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.415/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9125/bushel, down $0.08 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.9375/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $2 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grain Markets Look to WASDE for Direction

What You Need to Know Today: Market attention is shifting toward Tuesday’s USDA WASDE report, with analysts anticipating a modest reduction in U.S. corn production estimates and an increase in soybean production. The report could provide fresh direction for grain markets as traders reass...

soy-oilseeds biofuel energy

Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts

Key Takeaways:  WPI’s forecasts call for physical U.S. soybean crushing margins to weaken over the next four months and average $4.44/bushel by late February, while CBOT futures margins should rise modestly to about $2.40/bushel. A key catalyst for this is the expectation that U.S...

feed-grains livestock farm-inputs

“Lame Duck” and “Farm Bill”: Mutually Exclusive?

The election is over – for the most part. Counting is still underway in some states, including Alaska, where a ranked-choice voting system is in place for the Senate race, and Mississippi, as well as in some House districts. But as of now, Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats,...

wheat farm-inputs

Wheat Technology: Drought Resistance and Consumer Acceptance

Look away for a moment, and technology will surprise you in some way that you could not foresee or even imagine. If you are in the wheat business as a farmer, a miller, or a baker, you might know something about hybrid wheat, genetically engineered wheat, and gene-edited wheat. These products h...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Managed money sold a net 235,000 agricultural futures contracts during the week, cutting the aggregate net long 52.8 percent to 210,000 contracts. Funds have reduced their aggregate agricultural net long by 423,000 contracts over the past two weeks, with this week’s selling exceeding the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4/bushel, down $0.0425 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9925/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.8825/bushel, down $0.14 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $317.2/short ton, down $1.4...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Equity Market Selloff Weighs on Agricultural Commodities

What You Need to Know Today: U.S. equities declined sharply Thursday, reversing Wednesday’s post-election rally as investors continued selling technology stocks amid concerns that Democratic gains in the midterm elections could slow investment in artificial intelligence and data center d...

livestock farm-inputs

Livestock Roundup: Meat State Shake Up on Senate Agriculture Committee

The Senate Agriculture Committee will undergo significant changes in the new Congress beginning in January 2027, including several major shifts in meat-producing states. The Democratic Party’s tsunami swept Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) out of office, and out of the seat once held by...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

Milk Pricing with The Calf in the Ledger

What dairy breakeven looks like with and without the beef-on-dairy boom To put a dollar value on that question, this analysis removes the calf check from the USDA ledger and examines how many of the last five years would have reached breakeven without it. Key Takeaways: Milk and other income a...

Transportation Perspectives - 5 November

Key Takeaways: Fresh North Atlantic cargoes lifted Capesize hire even as iron ore voyage assessments eased, giving owners the most leverage on transatlantic business. Australian coal helped turn Panamax rates higher, but a sustained Atlantic recovery will require more grain bookings from the A...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4425/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.985/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.0225/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $318.6/short ton, up $0...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: The Votes Are In. The Market’s Still Deciding.

The US election is over, but the market’s debate is just beginning. A shift in Washington’s balance of power is changing policy expectations, while developments involving Iran and an early decline in the dollar are adding to the uncertainty. Now traders must decide how much of that...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

Blue Wave Crashes on Ag Policy

Key Takeaways: The 2026 U.S. Midterm elections surprised many pundits and have created significant changes in how agriculture and major agricultural production states will be represented in Congress. Details on how candidates expect to address agricultural issues are still limited, and no offi...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

Japan’s Agricultural Import Dependence Supports Consistent Demand

Key Takeaways: Japan’s mountainous geography and limited farmland constrain domestic agricultural production, while its highly developed economy and substantial purchasing power make it one of the world’s most important agricultural import markets. Japan’s calorie-based food...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.425/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9975/bushel, down $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.14/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $318/short ton, down $1...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Ags Turn Red as Election Map Blinks Blue

What You Need to Know Today: Corn broke sharply lower after overnight headlines that U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials would meet for peace talks on 10 and 11 November. Mexico made its second large purchase of U.S. corn in as many days, bringing total purchases this week to just over 2 MM...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds biofuel

EUDR Compliance Could Shift Global Soymeal Trade Flows

Key Takeaways: The EU's new deforestation regulations, taking effect 30 December 2026, could alter global soymeal trade through stricter traceability requirements and higher compliance costs. Brazil's complex supply chains are likely to complicate compliance with the new regulations, potential...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins improved to $89/head last week, up $53 from the prior week as declining fed cattle prices more than offset weaker beef cutout values. Fed cattle prices fell $3.35/cwt to $224/cwt while the Choice cutout declined $2.49/cwt to $366/cwt, improving packer profits. Despite the re...

livestock

Port Strike Averted, but New Deadline Looming and Pork Market Precarious

The brewing West Coast port strike involving about 250 maritime watchmen, or approximately 2 percent of port employees, has been postponed until 5 November after the workers agreed to extend the strike deadline. The watchmen control and inspect truck and employee access at terminal gates. A sho...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4825/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $6.065/bushel, up $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.1675/bushel, down $0.175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.6/short ton, down $5 from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Rebounds on Exports; Bears Control CBOT and CME Otherwise

What You Need to Know Today: Funds remain in control of the market, which means broadly bearish trade for the ag sector. Monday’s massive corn export sale to Mexico helped trigger some short covering and a bit of other end-user buying in corn, which could help stabilize the market. Wheat...

farm-inputs

Election Eve Outlook: Crisis in Agricultural Policy and the Elections

With less than 24 hours until Election Day, control of the Senate remains a wild card. Republicans and Democrats alike say they are poised to win control of the chamber in the new Congress that starts in January 2027. The House of Representatives is more of a lost cause for continued Republican...

livestock

Pork Market Weakness Extends Beyond Seasonal Pressures

Key Takeaways: U.S. hog and pork prices have declined sharply, with December lean hog futures ending October at $58.875/cwt and the pork cutout reaching its lowest level since January 2021. Seasonal increases in hog slaughter and pork production have contributed to price weakness, although the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.415/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9125/bushel, down $0.08 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.9375/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $2 from y...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Grain Markets Look to WASDE for Direction

What You Need to Know Today: Market attention is shifting toward Tuesday’s USDA WASDE report, with analysts anticipating a modest reduction in U.S. corn production estimates and an increase in soybean production. The report could provide fresh direction for grain markets as traders reass...

soy-oilseeds biofuel energy

Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts

Key Takeaways:  WPI’s forecasts call for physical U.S. soybean crushing margins to weaken over the next four months and average $4.44/bushel by late February, while CBOT futures margins should rise modestly to about $2.40/bushel. A key catalyst for this is the expectation that U.S...

feed-grains livestock farm-inputs

“Lame Duck” and “Farm Bill”: Mutually Exclusive?

The election is over – for the most part. Counting is still underway in some states, including Alaska, where a ranked-choice voting system is in place for the Senate race, and Mississippi, as well as in some House districts. But as of now, Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats,...

wheat farm-inputs

Wheat Technology: Drought Resistance and Consumer Acceptance

Look away for a moment, and technology will surprise you in some way that you could not foresee or even imagine. If you are in the wheat business as a farmer, a miller, or a baker, you might know something about hybrid wheat, genetically engineered wheat, and gene-edited wheat. These products h...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

CFTC COT Report Analysis

Managed money sold a net 235,000 agricultural futures contracts during the week, cutting the aggregate net long 52.8 percent to 210,000 contracts. Funds have reduced their aggregate agricultural net long by 423,000 contracts over the past two weeks, with this week’s selling exceeding the...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4/bushel, down $0.0425 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9925/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.8825/bushel, down $0.14 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $317.2/short ton, down $1.4...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Equity Market Selloff Weighs on Agricultural Commodities

What You Need to Know Today: U.S. equities declined sharply Thursday, reversing Wednesday’s post-election rally as investors continued selling technology stocks amid concerns that Democratic gains in the midterm elections could slow investment in artificial intelligence and data center d...

livestock farm-inputs

Livestock Roundup: Meat State Shake Up on Senate Agriculture Committee

The Senate Agriculture Committee will undergo significant changes in the new Congress beginning in January 2027, including several major shifts in meat-producing states. The Democratic Party’s tsunami swept Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) out of office, and out of the seat once held by...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

Milk Pricing with The Calf in the Ledger

What dairy breakeven looks like with and without the beef-on-dairy boom To put a dollar value on that question, this analysis removes the calf check from the USDA ledger and examines how many of the last five years would have reached breakeven without it. Key Takeaways: Milk and other income a...

Transportation Perspectives - 5 November

Key Takeaways: Fresh North Atlantic cargoes lifted Capesize hire even as iron ore voyage assessments eased, giving owners the most leverage on transatlantic business. Australian coal helped turn Panamax rates higher, but a sustained Atlantic recovery will require more grain bookings from the A...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4425/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.985/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.0225/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $318.6/short ton, up $0...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: The Votes Are In. The Market’s Still Deciding.

The US election is over, but the market’s debate is just beginning. A shift in Washington’s balance of power is changing policy expectations, while developments involving Iran and an early decline in the dollar are adding to the uncertainty. Now traders must decide how much of that...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

Blue Wave Crashes on Ag Policy

Key Takeaways: The 2026 U.S. Midterm elections surprised many pundits and have created significant changes in how agriculture and major agricultural production states will be represented in Congress. Details on how candidates expect to address agricultural issues are still limited, and no offi...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds livestock

Japan’s Agricultural Import Dependence Supports Consistent Demand

Key Takeaways: Japan’s mountainous geography and limited farmland constrain domestic agricultural production, while its highly developed economy and substantial purchasing power make it one of the world’s most important agricultural import markets. Japan’s calorie-based food...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.425/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9975/bushel, down $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.14/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $318/short ton, down $1...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Ags Turn Red as Election Map Blinks Blue

What You Need to Know Today: Corn broke sharply lower after overnight headlines that U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials would meet for peace talks on 10 and 11 November. Mexico made its second large purchase of U.S. corn in as many days, bringing total purchases this week to just over 2 MM...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds biofuel

EUDR Compliance Could Shift Global Soymeal Trade Flows

Key Takeaways: The EU's new deforestation regulations, taking effect 30 December 2026, could alter global soymeal trade through stricter traceability requirements and higher compliance costs. Brazil's complex supply chains are likely to complicate compliance with the new regulations, potential...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

Beef packer margins improved to $89/head last week, up $53 from the prior week as declining fed cattle prices more than offset weaker beef cutout values. Fed cattle prices fell $3.35/cwt to $224/cwt while the Choice cutout declined $2.49/cwt to $366/cwt, improving packer profits. Despite the re...

livestock

Port Strike Averted, but New Deadline Looming and Pork Market Precarious

The brewing West Coast port strike involving about 250 maritime watchmen, or approximately 2 percent of port employees, has been postponed until 5 November after the workers agreed to extend the strike deadline. The watchmen control and inspect truck and employee access at terminal gates. A sho...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4825/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Wheat closed at $6.065/bushel, up $0.03 from yesterday's close.  Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.1675/bushel, down $0.175 from yesterday's close.  Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.6/short ton, down $5 from...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Corn Rebounds on Exports; Bears Control CBOT and CME Otherwise

What You Need to Know Today: Funds remain in control of the market, which means broadly bearish trade for the ag sector. Monday’s massive corn export sale to Mexico helped trigger some short covering and a bit of other end-user buying in corn, which could help stabilize the market. Wheat...

farm-inputs

Election Eve Outlook: Crisis in Agricultural Policy and the Elections

With less than 24 hours until Election Day, control of the Senate remains a wild card. Republicans and Democrats alike say they are poised to win control of the chamber in the new Congress that starts in January 2027. The House of Representatives is more of a lost cause for continued Republican...

livestock

Pork Market Weakness Extends Beyond Seasonal Pressures

Key Takeaways: U.S. hog and pork prices have declined sharply, with December lean hog futures ending October at $58.875/cwt and the pork cutout reaching its lowest level since January 2021. Seasonal increases in hog slaughter and pork production have contributed to price weakness, although the...

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