Transportation Perspectives - 27 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal traded at a record $5.3 million for a transit slot this week as line-up times extend to 17 days. The difficulties transiting the Canal are supporting the PNW/Gulf spread. Tanker freight markets remain elevated as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. I...
Livestock Round Up: Ag Groups Push Back on Trump Beef Plan
As WPI reported on 21 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing imports at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bringing down costs f...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 26 August)
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Gene Editing Offers a New Path for Crop Development
Key Takeaways: Gene editing makes targeted changes to a plant’s existing DNA, while genetic modification can introduce genetic material from another organism to create traits not naturally present in the crop. Gene editing is unlikely to replace genetic modification entirely, as the two...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continued to face delays due to high grain moisture and poor field conditions in some areas. Despite elevated moisture levels, an increasing number of farmers began harvesting as crop losses and lodging emerged. Harvest progress has now surpassed 80 percent b...
President Trump Announces Move on Over Quota Beef Tariffs - Again
On Friday, at 6:57 AM, President Donald Trump announced, via a social media post, a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas—a move aimed at bringing down costs for American consumers. This is the secon...
Transportation Perspectives - 20 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal’s draft restrictions and decreasing rainfall outlook are driving big moves in dry bulk markets this week. Panamax markets are sharply lower as the economics of moving freight across the Canal are deteriorating rapidly, leading to support in Supramax vessels...
Brazil’s Reliance on Imported Fertilizer Is a Potential Weak Link
Key Takeaways: Brazil’s growing role in global agriculture is accompanied by a major vulnerability: the country imports approximately 88 percent of its fertilizer needs. High natural gas costs and development challenges have limited domestic nitrogen and potash production despite Brazil&...
Argentina’s Record Corn Crop Drives Export Growth
Key Takeaways: Argentina is on pace for a record corn crop and record exports in the current marketing year, with abundant supplies likely to keep the country highly competitive in global export markets. Argentina’s record exportable surplus is allowing it to offer highly competitive pri...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina’s corn harvest progress has fallen further behind the normal pace, with the latest estimate showing more than 15 percentage points of delay versus previous years. Excessive grain moisture and poor road conditions continue to limit field access and slow harvest act...
Agricultural Precision Technology: A Look Back and Forward
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
Transportation Perspectives - 13 August
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk freight markets are higher this week as activity in Asia and off the ECSA picks up. President Trump extended the Jones Act waiver for another 90 days this week, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil and other goods between U.S. ports. A container...
AP Quant: WASDE Vegoils
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
WASDE Soybeans - August 2026
USDA’s August WASDE outlook for 2026/27 U.S. soybeans is for a modest increase in the U.S. ending stocks by 10 million bushels to 320 million. There was no impact on prices – the seasonal-average farm price of soybeans remains unchanged at $11.40 per bushel; soybean meal and oil pri...
WASDE Corn - August 2026
USDA’s August WASDE outlook for 2026/27 U.S. corn is basically for unchanged production as an increased acreage estimate offset a lower yield forecast. Reduced beginning stocks and increased corn exports reduced the estimated ending stocks of U.S. corn to 1.7 billion bushels. The seasonal...
WASDE Wheat - August 2026
USDA’s August WASDE outlook for 2026/27 reduced U.S. wheat supplies on lower production, which is forecast at 1,531 million bushels, down 5 million from last month on decreased harvested area and yield. U.S. ending stocks of total wheat were reduced 5 million bushels to 717 million and ar...
Understanding Protein Content in Soymeal
Key Takeaways: Soymeal with 44 percent protein generally contains more soybean hulls and fiber, while 48 percent soymeal is more extensively dehulled, resulting in higher protein concentration and lower fiber. CBOT soymeal futures were lowered from a 48 percent to 47.5 percent protein specific...
India’s Role as the Largest Global Vegetable Oil Importer
Key Takeaways: India is the world’s largest vegetable oil importer, making it a critical source of global demand despite being less prominent than China in broader agricultural trade. India’s vegetable oil import dependence is structural, with domestic oilseed production unable to...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Weather continues to dominate the Argentine grain market. Rainfall persisted across much of the country’s agricultural region during the week, accompanied by unusually warm temperatures. As a result, soil moisture profiles remain fully recharged across most production areas. The...
WPI August Grain Balance Sheet Projections
Key Takeaways: WPI’s 2025/26 corn export models continue to reflect strong international demand and put the total marketing year volume slightly above USDA’s estimates. Strong old crop corn exports are offset by weaker feed and residual use, leaving ending stocks slightly ele...
Transportation Perspectives - 6 August
Key Takeaways: Global freight markets are mixed this week with Capesize and Panamax vessel seeing strong performance, primarily on iron ore demand and U.S. Gulf and ECSA grain demand. Handysize and, to a lesser extent, Supramax vessels are trading lower as charterers focus on larger vess...
Sugarcane: The World’s Most Abundant Crop but Often Overlooked
Key Takeaways: Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by total production volume, surpassing major commodities such as corn, wheat, and soybeans, and supplies roughly 80 percent of global sugar production. Sugarcane’s perennial growth cycle allows farmers to harvest multiple crops f...
Offal Meat: Challenges and Opportunities in a Global Market
Key Takeaways: Offal represents an important segment of global meat trade by adding value to underutilized portions of livestock carcasses and improving overall resource efficiency. Strong export demand for products such as pork variety meats and chicken feet allows processors to maximize carc...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina's corn harvest has reached 69.8 percent of the national harvestable area. Harvest progress remains constrained primarily in southeastern Buenos Aires, where persistently high humidity has slowed grain dry-down and prevented moisture levels from reaching harvest standards. As a re...
Biomass-Based Diesel Feedstock Update: May Sets Record for Soyoil Usage
Key Takeaways: Soyoil consumption as a biofuel feedstock climbed to a record 1.434 billion pounds in May, setting a new all-time monthly high. Improved 45Z policy clarity in February 2026 has supported stronger soyoil demand from the biofuel sector by providing producers with greater certainty...
Brazil’s Emergence as a Major Pork Exporter
Key Takeaways: Brazil’s pork exports have more than doubled since 2019 as competitive feed costs, ASF-free status, and expanding global demand have strengthened the country’s position in international markets. Brazil’s abundant domestic production of corn and soybeans provide...
New World Screwworm: Phased Re-Opening of Mexican Border
USDA announced on Friday the coordinated, phased reopening of southern U.S.-Mexico livestock ports starting 24 August 2026, after more than a year of closures due to the spread of New World screwworm (NWS). Douglas, Arizona, will be the first port of entry to resume cattle trade on 24 August. T...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Argentina's wheat planting advanced another 5.7 percentage points over the past week, reaching 97.7 percent of the projected 6.5 million hectares despite persistent rainfall across the country's agricultural region. Planting is now complete in the western production areas and the Northern...
Section 301: A New Tariff Architecture
Just when we thought it was safe to step outside and enjoy some certainty in the world of international commerce, the Trump Administration announced on Thursday afternoon a barrage of tariffs on 60 countries based on its recent Section 301 investigations. Section 301 permits the executive branc...
Transportation Perspectives - 23 July
Key Takeaways: The situation in the Arab Gulf is little changed this week, which is to say it is a day-by-day – and sometimes hour-by-hour – judgment call as to what is or will happen. There are some vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but transits are a fraction of what they...
Russia’s Diesel Export Ban Tightens Global Fuel Markets and Raises Agricultural Costs
Key Takeaways: Russia’s diesel export ban is tightening global fuel supplies and increasing dependence on alternative exporters. Limited refining capacity and logistical constraints make diesel markets especially sensitive to supply disruptions. Diesel supply disruptions are more difficu...
Trade Overview: USMCA, Brazil Section 301 Investigation, Section 122 Tariffs
USMCA Re-Negotiations At the Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit on Friday, former USTR Robert Lighthizer stated that the USMCA renegotiations should focus on the trade deficit with Mexico rather than the trade pact itself. The U.S. deficit with Mexico exceeds $170 billion, including a net deficit...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Harvest delays continue to complicate Argentina's corn market. Persistently high humidity, combined with scattered rainfall across key producing regions, continues to slow harvest progress. In southern Buenos Aires, harvesting remains constrained by poor field access, while across central...
Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts
Key Takeaways: Continued domestic demand for soyoil in the U.S. will drive prices higher and create a firmer outlook for global soybean values and crush margins. U.S. soyoil prices are set to increase 13-16 percent over the next four months as the domestic demand expansion takes hold. Th...
Transportation Perspectives - 16 July
Key Takeaways: Tensions in the Persian Gulf are further away than ever from being resolved, as the ceasefire has fallen apart completely and the U.S. and Iran are back to trading blows. Ships are still cautiously exiting the Strait of Hormuz but at a much slower rate than just a few week...
U.S. Farmers Maintain a Storage Advantage over Brazilian Counterparts
Key Takeaways: The U.S. maintains a significant storage advantage, with a much larger share of grain storage located on farms, giving producers greater flexibility to manage timing, basis, and pricing decisions. Brazil's storage deficit increases harvest-time pressure on logistics and exports,...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Argentina's wheat planting advanced another 7 percentage points over the past week, with 87.9 percent of the projected 6.5 Mha now seeded. Planting is entering its final stage across the central and northern production regions, except for parts of north-central Santa Fe, where excessive s...
AP Quant: WASDE Vegoils
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - presents the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - presents the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - presents the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are of...
WASDE Soybeans - July 2026
USDA’s July WASDE outlook for 2026/27 left ending stocks of U.S. soybeans unchanged at 310 million bushels for 2026/27. Prices also are unchanged for 2026/27 - the average U.S. soybean price is forecast at $11.40 per bushel; soybean meal and oil prices are projected at $310 per short ton...
WASDE Corn - July 2026
USDA’s July WASDE outlook for 2026/27 reduced total U.S. corn ending stocks by 170 million bushels to 1.8 billion. The season-average farm price received by farmers is unchanged at $4.40 per bushel. Foreign corn production was cut due to record heat in France. If realized, French pr...
WASDE Wheat - July 2026
USDA’s July WASDE outlook for 2026/27 reduced total U.S. wheat production by 7 million bushels from last month to 1,536 million – which is the lowest U.S. wheat production since 1970/71. The result is that projected 2026/27 ending stocks are 722 million bushels, which is down 22 per...
Soyoil Clears an EU Regulatory Hurdle, but Demand Growth Faces Other Challenges
Key Takeaways: The European Parliament rejected a proposal to classify soyoil as a high ILUC-risk feedstock, preventing a potential phaseout from EU biofuel markets by 2030. Palm oil remains the only major vegetable oil designated as high ILUC-risk in the EU due to concerns over expansion into...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina's corn harvest has reached 52.9 percent of the national harvestable area, with an average yield of 8.15 MT/ha. Harvest continues at a moderate pace because of high grain and field moisture, particularly across central and southern Buenos Aires Province. Over the past se...
U.S. Exports to Cuba: It’s About Displacement
As Cuba's economic crisis has deepened, discussions about the country's eventual economic and political transition have reemerged. One question that inevitably follows is what opportunities might emerge for U.S. agricultural exports. So, here’s a brief review of those opportunities, but n...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina's corn harvest continued to advance at a moderate-to-slow pace, constrained by high moisture levels in both the grain and the fields. Harvest delays remain concentrated in the remaining early-planted corn in central and southern Buenos Aires. To date, harvesting has rea...
Soybean Crush Margin Forecast
What You Need to Know Today… Crush margins are set to pull back after their recent rallies, though U.S. markets will fare better than others. U.S. demand-led strength in soyoil pricing is a key driver of U.S. margin profitability and will remain so into mid-autumn. Soymeal prices are th...
Argentina’s Agricultural Export Tax Reform at Risk
Key Takeaways: Argentina is a major global agricultural exporter, but producer returns have historically been constrained by export taxes. Export taxes have been a long-standing policy tool since 1955, reintroduced in 2002 after Argentina’s financial crisis, and have since remained a key...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Argentina's wheat planting campaign advanced 13.4 percentage points week over week. Despite limited rainfall, low temperatures, and elevated atmospheric humidity, soil recovery remains slow across the southern agricultural belt, where field access for machinery continues to be constrained...
Naturally Resilient Crops Are Key to Drought Mitigation
Key Takeaways: Drought remains a major threat to global agricultural production, particularly in regions with limited rainfall and growing water scarcity. Commercially available drought-tolerant traits in corn, soybeans, and wheat have generally delivered modest yield improvements, limiting th...
Port of Chancay's Success Hinges on Inland Infrastructure
Key Takeaways: China has invested heavily in the Port of Chancay to strengthen trade links between South America and Asia. The port could reduce shipping times to China by up to two weeks and improve export competitiveness. Inland transportation infrastructure remains the primary obstacle to r...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Rainfall across most of Argentina's agricultural regions during the past week slowed the pace of 2026/27 wheat planting. Even so, planting progress has reached 44.2 percent of the projected 6.5 million hectares, following a weekly advance of 11.8 percentage points. Fieldwork was concentra...
WASDE Soybeans - June 2026
USDA’s June outlook for 2026/27 U.S. soybean supply, use, and price projections is unchanged. U.S. soybean ending stocks are unchanged. The result is that U.S. season-average soybean price for 2026/27 is forecast at $11.40 per bushel; soybean meal and oil prices are $310 per short ton and...
WASDE Corn - June 2026
USDA’s June outlook for 2026/27 U.S. corn is unchanged from last month. Slightly higher ending stocks for 2026/27 results in no change for the season-average price received by U.S. farmers producers at $4.40 per bushel. Global coarse grain production for 2026/27 is forecast 5.8 million to...
WASDE Wheat - June 2026
USDA’s June outlook for 2026/27 reduced the U.S. average wheat yield by 0.5 bushels per acre to 47.0 bushels and ending stocks are reduced 18 million bushels to 744 million. However, U.S. wheat exports are unchanged at 775 million bushels The result is 2026/27 season-average farm price is...
Transportation Perspectives - 11 June
Vessel supplies in the tanker sector are tightening as vessels are “disappearing” from the position list. There is some indication that the position list on both sides of the Suez is “wanting” right now and many are expecting an uptick in rates. There is an odd lack of t...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
Waste Feedstock Constraints Revive Demand for Crop-Based Biofuels
Key Takeaways: Early U.S. biofuel policy relied primarily on crop-based feedstocks such as corn and vegetable oils. California's LCFS increased demand for waste-derived feedstocks by rewarding fuels with lower carbon intensity scores. Supplies of used cooking oil, animal fats, and distillers c...
EU Sovereignty Ruse; Imbalanced Views; USMCA Voices
EU Sovereignty Ruse For years politicians talked like banty roosters about Europe’s soft power leadership, with American leaders hoping that a strong EU would multiply the U.S. power equation. Then Donald Trump ascended to power and called Europe a Potemkin village, infuriating Brussels t...
Mexico’s Drought Accelerated the Growth of U.S. Corn Exports
Key Takeaways: Mexico's drought intensified from 2022 to 2024, with critically low reservoir levels in Sinaloa driving a sharp decline in corn production. Sinaloa produces roughly one-quarter of Mexico's corn crop and is the country's leading supplier of white corn used for staple foods such a...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Planting of the 2026/27 wheat crop continues at an exceptional pace, with 32.4 percent of the projected 6.5 million hectares already seeded. This represents the fastest progress for this time of year since at least the 1998/99 season. Favorable soil moisture conditions have supported rapi...
Key Factors that Sparked Brazil’s Growth into an Agricultural Powerhouse
Key Takeaways: Acidity: Brazil’s agricultural production rose significantly after agricultural researchers were able to reduce soil acidity in the Cerrado region. Rotation: Farmers in the Center-West of Brazil, where the Cerrado is located, enjoy a soybean/corn double cropping advantage...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Export Tax Reform The Argentine government announced a new long-term schedule for reducing export taxes ("retenciones"), one of the main policy tools affecting agricultural profitability and farmer selling decisions. Export taxes are applied directly to export values and have historic...
U.S. and Global Soy Crush Forecasts
WPI recently completed an expansion of our methodology for estimating and forecasting U.S. and global soybean crushing margins. The new approach incorporates the energy market’s expanding influence on the oilseed sector and the structural changes in global biofuel demand. This report is i...
Brazil’s Emerging Corn Ethanol Industry Driven by Market Forces and Biofuel Policy
Key Takeaways: Brazil has been the second-largest producer of fuel ethanol globally, but almost all of it was derived from sugarcane until recently. Corn ethanol production has increased due to expanded second-crop corn production, sugarcane storage limitations, and biofuel policy. Brazil is e...
Soyoil Prices Continue to Be Bullish Amid High Energy Prices and Favorable Biofuel Policy
Key Takeaways: Soyoil futures have been trading at the highest levels since 2022. Higher crude oil prices have allowed biofuels to be more cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Recent U.S. biofuel policy, including 45Z, has been favorable toward soyoil as a feedstock. California will be limiting...
More on China Trade
As WPI reported, Presidents Trump and Xi held a bilateral summit last week (World Perspectives), the first since 2017, with some uncertainty over the outcome, though Trump commented on some “fantastic” trade deals. Over the weekend, more information was released on those agreements,...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina’s corn harvest remains virtually stalled as producers continue prioritizing the soybean harvest, which has advanced rapidly in recent weeks. During the past week, corn harvest progress increased only two percentage points, while soybean harvest advanced more than 30 percent...
Trump-Xi Bilateral Meeting Over
The long-awaited meeting between President Trump and President Xi of China has concluded, and details are elusive, though Trump stated today that he and Xi made some “fantastic” trade deals. Both countries reported the meetings as a success, but that has more to do with positioning...
Farm Labor: Fix What is Broken?
We at WPI hear frequently that U.S. agriculture is broken and needs fixing. This argument is often heard in MAHA-related discussions and focuses on highly processed food consumption or the overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Among farmers and food processors, however, especially tho...
Transportation Perspectives - May 14
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe online after this date to...
WASDE Soybeans - May 2026
USDA’s initial outlook for 2026/27 U.S. soybeans is that increased production will be offset by strong demand for soybean oil as a biofuel. The soybean oil price is forecast at 70 cents per pound – up about 7 cents. Active crushing is expected to reduce U.S. soybean ending stocks to...
WASDE Corn - May 2026
USDA’s initial outlook for 2026/27 corn is that the U.S. remains the largest global exporter. The season-average farm price is projected to increase to $4.40 per bushel, up 25 cents. World corn imports are forecast to rise 1 percent...
WASDE Wheat - May 2026
USDA’s initial outlook for 2026/27 U.S. wheat is for a significant reduction in Hard Red Winter wheat: The expectation is for an 18 percent decline in ending stocks and a $1.50-bushel increase in the seasonal average farm price to $6.50 per bushel. Total global wheat production is e...
Policy Roundup
A federal appeals court paused a USITC ruling against President Trump’s use of Section 122 to impose 10-percent global tariffs. A bipartisan group of 80 House members asked USTR to investigate specialty crop imports from Mexico for unfair trade practices. India notified the WT...
Market Commentary: USDA Slashes Wheat Outlook, Soy Balance Sheet Heavily Yield-Dependent
What You Need to Know Today: Iran says its definition of the Strait of Hormuz is now a “vast operation area” that stretches from Jask to Siri Island. The White House said President Trump did not sign a suspension of the TRQs on beef imports but is “finalizing potential...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
U.S. to Temporarily Suspend TRQs on Over-Quota Tariffs on Beef
The Trump Administration is planning a suspension of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on beef from all exporters for 200 days as a means to address high beef prices in the U.S. U.S. cattle and beef prices have increased based on exceptionally strong consumer demand, the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 75...
DOJ USDA Give Update on Antitrust Investigation into Beef Packing
At a joint press conference last week between the Department of Justice and USDA, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that he and Rollins were present to “... talk about our progress here at the Justice Department to hold meat packers accountable.” The structure of the beef...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN Argentina’s corn harvest remains practically paralyzed, with weekly progress of less than 2 percent, in sharp contrast to soybeans, which advanced 16 percentage points. Rainfall across much of the agricultural region, with accumulations exceeding 100 mm and strong winds in southeaste...
Market Commentary: Equities Easily Outperform Ags
What You Need to Know Today Ag markets have placed bets on new soybean demand from China after next week’s Xi-Trump meeting. While the media predicts no major deals or agreements, Beijing sees Trump as transactional so it will “buy” some stability, and soybeans are relatively...
Transportation Perspectives - 7 May
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe o...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN Argentina In Argentina, after several weeks of intense and frequent rainfall, weather conditions have improved, with clear days, dry cold, and wind supporting both soil and grain drying. Harvest activity has resumed; however, producers continue to prioritize soybeans, limiting progress in...
U.S. and Global Soy Crush Forecasts
WPI recently completed an expansion of our methodology for estimating and forecasting U.S. and global soybean crushing margins. The new approach incorporates the energy market’s expanding influence on the oilseed sector and the structural changes in global biofuel demand. This report is i...
Transportation Perspectives - 30 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Intermittent rains of varying intensity continue to disrupt Argentina’s corn harvest across key agricultural regions. Dry windows have not been sufficient to improve field conditions or reduce grain moisture, keeping progress slow and prompting many producers to prioritize...
E15: What Does It Mean?
Previous administrations—including that of President Donald Trump—have promoted domestic consumption of corn and soybeans through expanded biofuel mandates and subsidies. The original framework for this policy was the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which required the...
Transportation Perspectives - 23 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
Aid versus Trade; Idealism versus Competition; AI and Ag; Untethered Presidency
Aid versus Trade Development assistance has a long and unsatisfying history. The causes of poverty were long ago identified as poor governance and the lack of rule of law. But the UN could not criticize the national leaders that form its membership, and so for decades development assistance has...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Rains continued across Argentina’s core agricultural regions, with additional heavy accumulations keeping rural roads largely impassable and further slowing the corn harvest. Harvest progress remains limited at approximately 3 percent per week. At the same time, farmers are...
Transportation Perspectives - 16 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
War Impacts; Taxes and Tariffs
War Impacts May soybeans are now within a penny of their value two weeks ago, and May corn is back up to within half a percent of its price at that time. The S&P closed above 7,000 for the first time, and the Nasdaq hit a record high. The cost of gasoline is about 15 percent higher th...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN With a rainy start to April and excess moisture across much of Argentina’s agricultural region, the corn harvest has slowed, advancing just 2 percentage points over the past week to reach 21 percent of the total area. Rainfall during the second and third dekads of March was significa...
Transportation Perspectives - 10 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe online after this date to...
Sugar Supply and Demand Situation
Mexico’s 2025/26 sugar production is estimated to be 5.024 million MT, reflecting about a 6 percent increase from 4.7 million MT after the past two years of weather-affected output, including both persistent drought and ill-timed rains. Nonetheless, production remains near the low end com...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continued to advance nationwide, gaining 3.8 percentage points on the week to reach 19 percent of planted area. Fieldwork maintained a solid pace across most of the agricultural region, with the national average yield currently estimated at 8.53 MT/...
Prospective Planting and Quarterly Stocks Reports Preview
The 2026 USDA Prospective Plantings Report is scheduled for release tomorrow. The report surveys farmer planting intentions for major crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat. It also asks about 2025 planted and prevent-plant acres. This report gives the first real snapshot of what planted ac...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continues to advance at the national level. After a weekly gain of 2.2 percentage points, harvest has reached 15.2 percent of the suitable area. Although recent rainfall has partially limited fieldwork, it has not had a significant impact on overall...
War in Iran Taking Toll on Meat Exports Globally and U.S. Agriculture
The war in Iran is taking a toll on meat exports as well as fuel and fertilizer. As noted in a letter to the Administration, “Maritime freight disruptions from the ongoing conflict in Iran pose significant consequences to food security here at home and around the world.” This comes...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN Argentina’s corn harvest continues to move forward and has now reached 13 percent of planted area, with fieldwork still concentrated in the North Core. Progress there remains steady, and yields are averaging 9.82 MT/ha. Harvest is also beginning to pick up in the South Core, where ea...
Transportation Perspectives - 27 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal traded at a record $5.3 million for a transit slot this week as line-up times extend to 17 days. The difficulties transiting the Canal are supporting the PNW/Gulf spread. Tanker freight markets remain elevated as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. I...
Livestock Round Up: Ag Groups Push Back on Trump Beef Plan
As WPI reported on 21 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing imports at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bringing down costs f...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 26 August)
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Gene Editing Offers a New Path for Crop Development
Key Takeaways: Gene editing makes targeted changes to a plant’s existing DNA, while genetic modification can introduce genetic material from another organism to create traits not naturally present in the crop. Gene editing is unlikely to replace genetic modification entirely, as the two...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continued to face delays due to high grain moisture and poor field conditions in some areas. Despite elevated moisture levels, an increasing number of farmers began harvesting as crop losses and lodging emerged. Harvest progress has now surpassed 80 percent b...
President Trump Announces Move on Over Quota Beef Tariffs - Again
On Friday, at 6:57 AM, President Donald Trump announced, via a social media post, a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas—a move aimed at bringing down costs for American consumers. This is the secon...
Transportation Perspectives - 20 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal’s draft restrictions and decreasing rainfall outlook are driving big moves in dry bulk markets this week. Panamax markets are sharply lower as the economics of moving freight across the Canal are deteriorating rapidly, leading to support in Supramax vessels...
Brazil’s Reliance on Imported Fertilizer Is a Potential Weak Link
Key Takeaways: Brazil’s growing role in global agriculture is accompanied by a major vulnerability: the country imports approximately 88 percent of its fertilizer needs. High natural gas costs and development challenges have limited domestic nitrogen and potash production despite Brazil&...
Argentina’s Record Corn Crop Drives Export Growth
Key Takeaways: Argentina is on pace for a record corn crop and record exports in the current marketing year, with abundant supplies likely to keep the country highly competitive in global export markets. Argentina’s record exportable surplus is allowing it to offer highly competitive pri...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina’s corn harvest progress has fallen further behind the normal pace, with the latest estimate showing more than 15 percentage points of delay versus previous years. Excessive grain moisture and poor road conditions continue to limit field access and slow harvest act...
Agricultural Precision Technology: A Look Back and Forward
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
Transportation Perspectives - 13 August
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk freight markets are higher this week as activity in Asia and off the ECSA picks up. President Trump extended the Jones Act waiver for another 90 days this week, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil and other goods between U.S. ports. A container...
AP Quant: WASDE Vegoils
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
WASDE Soybeans - August 2026
USDA’s August WASDE outlook for 2026/27 U.S. soybeans is for a modest increase in the U.S. ending stocks by 10 million bushels to 320 million. There was no impact on prices – the seasonal-average farm price of soybeans remains unchanged at $11.40 per bushel; soybean meal and oil pri...
WASDE Corn - August 2026
USDA’s August WASDE outlook for 2026/27 U.S. corn is basically for unchanged production as an increased acreage estimate offset a lower yield forecast. Reduced beginning stocks and increased corn exports reduced the estimated ending stocks of U.S. corn to 1.7 billion bushels. The seasonal...
WASDE Wheat - August 2026
USDA’s August WASDE outlook for 2026/27 reduced U.S. wheat supplies on lower production, which is forecast at 1,531 million bushels, down 5 million from last month on decreased harvested area and yield. U.S. ending stocks of total wheat were reduced 5 million bushels to 717 million and ar...
Understanding Protein Content in Soymeal
Key Takeaways: Soymeal with 44 percent protein generally contains more soybean hulls and fiber, while 48 percent soymeal is more extensively dehulled, resulting in higher protein concentration and lower fiber. CBOT soymeal futures were lowered from a 48 percent to 47.5 percent protein specific...
India’s Role as the Largest Global Vegetable Oil Importer
Key Takeaways: India is the world’s largest vegetable oil importer, making it a critical source of global demand despite being less prominent than China in broader agricultural trade. India’s vegetable oil import dependence is structural, with domestic oilseed production unable to...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Weather continues to dominate the Argentine grain market. Rainfall persisted across much of the country’s agricultural region during the week, accompanied by unusually warm temperatures. As a result, soil moisture profiles remain fully recharged across most production areas. The...
WPI August Grain Balance Sheet Projections
Key Takeaways: WPI’s 2025/26 corn export models continue to reflect strong international demand and put the total marketing year volume slightly above USDA’s estimates. Strong old crop corn exports are offset by weaker feed and residual use, leaving ending stocks slightly ele...
Transportation Perspectives - 6 August
Key Takeaways: Global freight markets are mixed this week with Capesize and Panamax vessel seeing strong performance, primarily on iron ore demand and U.S. Gulf and ECSA grain demand. Handysize and, to a lesser extent, Supramax vessels are trading lower as charterers focus on larger vess...
Sugarcane: The World’s Most Abundant Crop but Often Overlooked
Key Takeaways: Sugarcane is the world’s largest crop by total production volume, surpassing major commodities such as corn, wheat, and soybeans, and supplies roughly 80 percent of global sugar production. Sugarcane’s perennial growth cycle allows farmers to harvest multiple crops f...
Offal Meat: Challenges and Opportunities in a Global Market
Key Takeaways: Offal represents an important segment of global meat trade by adding value to underutilized portions of livestock carcasses and improving overall resource efficiency. Strong export demand for products such as pork variety meats and chicken feet allows processors to maximize carc...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina's corn harvest has reached 69.8 percent of the national harvestable area. Harvest progress remains constrained primarily in southeastern Buenos Aires, where persistently high humidity has slowed grain dry-down and prevented moisture levels from reaching harvest standards. As a re...
Biomass-Based Diesel Feedstock Update: May Sets Record for Soyoil Usage
Key Takeaways: Soyoil consumption as a biofuel feedstock climbed to a record 1.434 billion pounds in May, setting a new all-time monthly high. Improved 45Z policy clarity in February 2026 has supported stronger soyoil demand from the biofuel sector by providing producers with greater certainty...
Brazil’s Emergence as a Major Pork Exporter
Key Takeaways: Brazil’s pork exports have more than doubled since 2019 as competitive feed costs, ASF-free status, and expanding global demand have strengthened the country’s position in international markets. Brazil’s abundant domestic production of corn and soybeans provide...
New World Screwworm: Phased Re-Opening of Mexican Border
USDA announced on Friday the coordinated, phased reopening of southern U.S.-Mexico livestock ports starting 24 August 2026, after more than a year of closures due to the spread of New World screwworm (NWS). Douglas, Arizona, will be the first port of entry to resume cattle trade on 24 August. T...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Argentina's wheat planting advanced another 5.7 percentage points over the past week, reaching 97.7 percent of the projected 6.5 million hectares despite persistent rainfall across the country's agricultural region. Planting is now complete in the western production areas and the Northern...
Section 301: A New Tariff Architecture
Just when we thought it was safe to step outside and enjoy some certainty in the world of international commerce, the Trump Administration announced on Thursday afternoon a barrage of tariffs on 60 countries based on its recent Section 301 investigations. Section 301 permits the executive branc...
Transportation Perspectives - 23 July
Key Takeaways: The situation in the Arab Gulf is little changed this week, which is to say it is a day-by-day – and sometimes hour-by-hour – judgment call as to what is or will happen. There are some vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, but transits are a fraction of what they...
Russia’s Diesel Export Ban Tightens Global Fuel Markets and Raises Agricultural Costs
Key Takeaways: Russia’s diesel export ban is tightening global fuel supplies and increasing dependence on alternative exporters. Limited refining capacity and logistical constraints make diesel markets especially sensitive to supply disruptions. Diesel supply disruptions are more difficu...
Trade Overview: USMCA, Brazil Section 301 Investigation, Section 122 Tariffs
USMCA Re-Negotiations At the Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit on Friday, former USTR Robert Lighthizer stated that the USMCA renegotiations should focus on the trade deficit with Mexico rather than the trade pact itself. The U.S. deficit with Mexico exceeds $170 billion, including a net deficit...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Harvest delays continue to complicate Argentina's corn market. Persistently high humidity, combined with scattered rainfall across key producing regions, continues to slow harvest progress. In southern Buenos Aires, harvesting remains constrained by poor field access, while across central...
Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts
Key Takeaways: Continued domestic demand for soyoil in the U.S. will drive prices higher and create a firmer outlook for global soybean values and crush margins. U.S. soyoil prices are set to increase 13-16 percent over the next four months as the domestic demand expansion takes hold. Th...
Transportation Perspectives - 16 July
Key Takeaways: Tensions in the Persian Gulf are further away than ever from being resolved, as the ceasefire has fallen apart completely and the U.S. and Iran are back to trading blows. Ships are still cautiously exiting the Strait of Hormuz but at a much slower rate than just a few week...
U.S. Farmers Maintain a Storage Advantage over Brazilian Counterparts
Key Takeaways: The U.S. maintains a significant storage advantage, with a much larger share of grain storage located on farms, giving producers greater flexibility to manage timing, basis, and pricing decisions. Brazil's storage deficit increases harvest-time pressure on logistics and exports,...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Argentina's wheat planting advanced another 7 percentage points over the past week, with 87.9 percent of the projected 6.5 Mha now seeded. Planting is entering its final stage across the central and northern production regions, except for parts of north-central Santa Fe, where excessive s...
AP Quant: WASDE Vegoils
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - presents the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - presents the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - presents the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
Ag Perspectives Quant - WPI's data-driven look at ag market fundamentals - offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which WPI feels are of...
WASDE Soybeans - July 2026
USDA’s July WASDE outlook for 2026/27 left ending stocks of U.S. soybeans unchanged at 310 million bushels for 2026/27. Prices also are unchanged for 2026/27 - the average U.S. soybean price is forecast at $11.40 per bushel; soybean meal and oil prices are projected at $310 per short ton...
WASDE Corn - July 2026
USDA’s July WASDE outlook for 2026/27 reduced total U.S. corn ending stocks by 170 million bushels to 1.8 billion. The season-average farm price received by farmers is unchanged at $4.40 per bushel. Foreign corn production was cut due to record heat in France. If realized, French pr...
WASDE Wheat - July 2026
USDA’s July WASDE outlook for 2026/27 reduced total U.S. wheat production by 7 million bushels from last month to 1,536 million – which is the lowest U.S. wheat production since 1970/71. The result is that projected 2026/27 ending stocks are 722 million bushels, which is down 22 per...
Soyoil Clears an EU Regulatory Hurdle, but Demand Growth Faces Other Challenges
Key Takeaways: The European Parliament rejected a proposal to classify soyoil as a high ILUC-risk feedstock, preventing a potential phaseout from EU biofuel markets by 2030. Palm oil remains the only major vegetable oil designated as high ILUC-risk in the EU due to concerns over expansion into...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina's corn harvest has reached 52.9 percent of the national harvestable area, with an average yield of 8.15 MT/ha. Harvest continues at a moderate pace because of high grain and field moisture, particularly across central and southern Buenos Aires Province. Over the past se...
U.S. Exports to Cuba: It’s About Displacement
As Cuba's economic crisis has deepened, discussions about the country's eventual economic and political transition have reemerged. One question that inevitably follows is what opportunities might emerge for U.S. agricultural exports. So, here’s a brief review of those opportunities, but n...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina's corn harvest continued to advance at a moderate-to-slow pace, constrained by high moisture levels in both the grain and the fields. Harvest delays remain concentrated in the remaining early-planted corn in central and southern Buenos Aires. To date, harvesting has rea...
Soybean Crush Margin Forecast
What You Need to Know Today… Crush margins are set to pull back after their recent rallies, though U.S. markets will fare better than others. U.S. demand-led strength in soyoil pricing is a key driver of U.S. margin profitability and will remain so into mid-autumn. Soymeal prices are th...
Argentina’s Agricultural Export Tax Reform at Risk
Key Takeaways: Argentina is a major global agricultural exporter, but producer returns have historically been constrained by export taxes. Export taxes have been a long-standing policy tool since 1955, reintroduced in 2002 after Argentina’s financial crisis, and have since remained a key...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Argentina's wheat planting campaign advanced 13.4 percentage points week over week. Despite limited rainfall, low temperatures, and elevated atmospheric humidity, soil recovery remains slow across the southern agricultural belt, where field access for machinery continues to be constrained...
Naturally Resilient Crops Are Key to Drought Mitigation
Key Takeaways: Drought remains a major threat to global agricultural production, particularly in regions with limited rainfall and growing water scarcity. Commercially available drought-tolerant traits in corn, soybeans, and wheat have generally delivered modest yield improvements, limiting th...
Port of Chancay's Success Hinges on Inland Infrastructure
Key Takeaways: China has invested heavily in the Port of Chancay to strengthen trade links between South America and Asia. The port could reduce shipping times to China by up to two weeks and improve export competitiveness. Inland transportation infrastructure remains the primary obstacle to r...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Rainfall across most of Argentina's agricultural regions during the past week slowed the pace of 2026/27 wheat planting. Even so, planting progress has reached 44.2 percent of the projected 6.5 million hectares, following a weekly advance of 11.8 percentage points. Fieldwork was concentra...
WASDE Soybeans - June 2026
USDA’s June outlook for 2026/27 U.S. soybean supply, use, and price projections is unchanged. U.S. soybean ending stocks are unchanged. The result is that U.S. season-average soybean price for 2026/27 is forecast at $11.40 per bushel; soybean meal and oil prices are $310 per short ton and...
WASDE Corn - June 2026
USDA’s June outlook for 2026/27 U.S. corn is unchanged from last month. Slightly higher ending stocks for 2026/27 results in no change for the season-average price received by U.S. farmers producers at $4.40 per bushel. Global coarse grain production for 2026/27 is forecast 5.8 million to...
WASDE Wheat - June 2026
USDA’s June outlook for 2026/27 reduced the U.S. average wheat yield by 0.5 bushels per acre to 47.0 bushels and ending stocks are reduced 18 million bushels to 744 million. However, U.S. wheat exports are unchanged at 775 million bushels The result is 2026/27 season-average farm price is...
Transportation Perspectives - 11 June
Vessel supplies in the tanker sector are tightening as vessels are “disappearing” from the position list. There is some indication that the position list on both sides of the Suez is “wanting” right now and many are expecting an uptick in rates. There is an odd lack of t...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
Waste Feedstock Constraints Revive Demand for Crop-Based Biofuels
Key Takeaways: Early U.S. biofuel policy relied primarily on crop-based feedstocks such as corn and vegetable oils. California's LCFS increased demand for waste-derived feedstocks by rewarding fuels with lower carbon intensity scores. Supplies of used cooking oil, animal fats, and distillers c...
EU Sovereignty Ruse; Imbalanced Views; USMCA Voices
EU Sovereignty Ruse For years politicians talked like banty roosters about Europe’s soft power leadership, with American leaders hoping that a strong EU would multiply the U.S. power equation. Then Donald Trump ascended to power and called Europe a Potemkin village, infuriating Brussels t...
Mexico’s Drought Accelerated the Growth of U.S. Corn Exports
Key Takeaways: Mexico's drought intensified from 2022 to 2024, with critically low reservoir levels in Sinaloa driving a sharp decline in corn production. Sinaloa produces roughly one-quarter of Mexico's corn crop and is the country's leading supplier of white corn used for staple foods such a...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Planting of the 2026/27 wheat crop continues at an exceptional pace, with 32.4 percent of the projected 6.5 million hectares already seeded. This represents the fastest progress for this time of year since at least the 1998/99 season. Favorable soil moisture conditions have supported rapi...
Key Factors that Sparked Brazil’s Growth into an Agricultural Powerhouse
Key Takeaways: Acidity: Brazil’s agricultural production rose significantly after agricultural researchers were able to reduce soil acidity in the Cerrado region. Rotation: Farmers in the Center-West of Brazil, where the Cerrado is located, enjoy a soybean/corn double cropping advantage...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Export Tax Reform The Argentine government announced a new long-term schedule for reducing export taxes ("retenciones"), one of the main policy tools affecting agricultural profitability and farmer selling decisions. Export taxes are applied directly to export values and have historic...
U.S. and Global Soy Crush Forecasts
WPI recently completed an expansion of our methodology for estimating and forecasting U.S. and global soybean crushing margins. The new approach incorporates the energy market’s expanding influence on the oilseed sector and the structural changes in global biofuel demand. This report is i...
Brazil’s Emerging Corn Ethanol Industry Driven by Market Forces and Biofuel Policy
Key Takeaways: Brazil has been the second-largest producer of fuel ethanol globally, but almost all of it was derived from sugarcane until recently. Corn ethanol production has increased due to expanded second-crop corn production, sugarcane storage limitations, and biofuel policy. Brazil is e...
Soyoil Prices Continue to Be Bullish Amid High Energy Prices and Favorable Biofuel Policy
Key Takeaways: Soyoil futures have been trading at the highest levels since 2022. Higher crude oil prices have allowed biofuels to be more cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Recent U.S. biofuel policy, including 45Z, has been favorable toward soyoil as a feedstock. California will be limiting...
More on China Trade
As WPI reported, Presidents Trump and Xi held a bilateral summit last week (World Perspectives), the first since 2017, with some uncertainty over the outcome, though Trump commented on some “fantastic” trade deals. Over the weekend, more information was released on those agreements,...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina’s corn harvest remains virtually stalled as producers continue prioritizing the soybean harvest, which has advanced rapidly in recent weeks. During the past week, corn harvest progress increased only two percentage points, while soybean harvest advanced more than 30 percent...
Trump-Xi Bilateral Meeting Over
The long-awaited meeting between President Trump and President Xi of China has concluded, and details are elusive, though Trump stated today that he and Xi made some “fantastic” trade deals. Both countries reported the meetings as a success, but that has more to do with positioning...
Farm Labor: Fix What is Broken?
We at WPI hear frequently that U.S. agriculture is broken and needs fixing. This argument is often heard in MAHA-related discussions and focuses on highly processed food consumption or the overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Among farmers and food processors, however, especially tho...
Transportation Perspectives - May 14
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe online after this date to...
WASDE Soybeans - May 2026
USDA’s initial outlook for 2026/27 U.S. soybeans is that increased production will be offset by strong demand for soybean oil as a biofuel. The soybean oil price is forecast at 70 cents per pound – up about 7 cents. Active crushing is expected to reduce U.S. soybean ending stocks to...
WASDE Corn - May 2026
USDA’s initial outlook for 2026/27 corn is that the U.S. remains the largest global exporter. The season-average farm price is projected to increase to $4.40 per bushel, up 25 cents. World corn imports are forecast to rise 1 percent...
WASDE Wheat - May 2026
USDA’s initial outlook for 2026/27 U.S. wheat is for a significant reduction in Hard Red Winter wheat: The expectation is for an 18 percent decline in ending stocks and a $1.50-bushel increase in the seasonal average farm price to $6.50 per bushel. Total global wheat production is e...
Policy Roundup
A federal appeals court paused a USITC ruling against President Trump’s use of Section 122 to impose 10-percent global tariffs. A bipartisan group of 80 House members asked USTR to investigate specialty crop imports from Mexico for unfair trade practices. India notified the WT...
Market Commentary: USDA Slashes Wheat Outlook, Soy Balance Sheet Heavily Yield-Dependent
What You Need to Know Today: Iran says its definition of the Strait of Hormuz is now a “vast operation area” that stretches from Jask to Siri Island. The White House said President Trump did not sign a suspension of the TRQs on beef imports but is “finalizing potential...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
U.S. to Temporarily Suspend TRQs on Over-Quota Tariffs on Beef
The Trump Administration is planning a suspension of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) on beef from all exporters for 200 days as a means to address high beef prices in the U.S. U.S. cattle and beef prices have increased based on exceptionally strong consumer demand, the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 75...
DOJ USDA Give Update on Antitrust Investigation into Beef Packing
At a joint press conference last week between the Department of Justice and USDA, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that he and Rollins were present to “... talk about our progress here at the Justice Department to hold meat packers accountable.” The structure of the beef...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN Argentina’s corn harvest remains practically paralyzed, with weekly progress of less than 2 percent, in sharp contrast to soybeans, which advanced 16 percentage points. Rainfall across much of the agricultural region, with accumulations exceeding 100 mm and strong winds in southeaste...
Market Commentary: Equities Easily Outperform Ags
What You Need to Know Today Ag markets have placed bets on new soybean demand from China after next week’s Xi-Trump meeting. While the media predicts no major deals or agreements, Beijing sees Trump as transactional so it will “buy” some stability, and soybeans are relatively...
Transportation Perspectives - 7 May
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe o...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN Argentina In Argentina, after several weeks of intense and frequent rainfall, weather conditions have improved, with clear days, dry cold, and wind supporting both soil and grain drying. Harvest activity has resumed; however, producers continue to prioritize soybeans, limiting progress in...
U.S. and Global Soy Crush Forecasts
WPI recently completed an expansion of our methodology for estimating and forecasting U.S. and global soybean crushing margins. The new approach incorporates the energy market’s expanding influence on the oilseed sector and the structural changes in global biofuel demand. This report is i...
Transportation Perspectives - 30 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Intermittent rains of varying intensity continue to disrupt Argentina’s corn harvest across key agricultural regions. Dry windows have not been sufficient to improve field conditions or reduce grain moisture, keeping progress slow and prompting many producers to prioritize...
E15: What Does It Mean?
Previous administrations—including that of President Donald Trump—have promoted domestic consumption of corn and soybeans through expanded biofuel mandates and subsidies. The original framework for this policy was the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which required the...
Transportation Perspectives - 23 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
Aid versus Trade; Idealism versus Competition; AI and Ag; Untethered Presidency
Aid versus Trade Development assistance has a long and unsatisfying history. The causes of poverty were long ago identified as poor governance and the lack of rule of law. But the UN could not criticize the national leaders that form its membership, and so for decades development assistance has...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Rains continued across Argentina’s core agricultural regions, with additional heavy accumulations keeping rural roads largely impassable and further slowing the corn harvest. Harvest progress remains limited at approximately 3 percent per week. At the same time, farmers are...
Transportation Perspectives - 16 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
War Impacts; Taxes and Tariffs
War Impacts May soybeans are now within a penny of their value two weeks ago, and May corn is back up to within half a percent of its price at that time. The S&P closed above 7,000 for the first time, and the Nasdaq hit a record high. The cost of gasoline is about 15 percent higher th...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN With a rainy start to April and excess moisture across much of Argentina’s agricultural region, the corn harvest has slowed, advancing just 2 percentage points over the past week to reach 21 percent of the total area. Rainfall during the second and third dekads of March was significa...
Transportation Perspectives - 10 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscribe online after this date to...
Sugar Supply and Demand Situation
Mexico’s 2025/26 sugar production is estimated to be 5.024 million MT, reflecting about a 6 percent increase from 4.7 million MT after the past two years of weather-affected output, including both persistent drought and ill-timed rains. Nonetheless, production remains near the low end com...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continued to advance nationwide, gaining 3.8 percentage points on the week to reach 19 percent of planted area. Fieldwork maintained a solid pace across most of the agricultural region, with the national average yield currently estimated at 8.53 MT/...
Prospective Planting and Quarterly Stocks Reports Preview
The 2026 USDA Prospective Plantings Report is scheduled for release tomorrow. The report surveys farmer planting intentions for major crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat. It also asks about 2025 planted and prevent-plant acres. This report gives the first real snapshot of what planted ac...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continues to advance at the national level. After a weekly gain of 2.2 percentage points, harvest has reached 15.2 percent of the suitable area. Although recent rainfall has partially limited fieldwork, it has not had a significant impact on overall...
War in Iran Taking Toll on Meat Exports Globally and U.S. Agriculture
The war in Iran is taking a toll on meat exports as well as fuel and fertilizer. As noted in a letter to the Administration, “Maritime freight disruptions from the ongoing conflict in Iran pose significant consequences to food security here at home and around the world.” This comes...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
CORN Argentina’s corn harvest continues to move forward and has now reached 13 percent of planted area, with fieldwork still concentrated in the North Core. Progress there remains steady, and yields are averaging 9.82 MT/ha. Harvest is also beginning to pick up in the South Core, where ea...