Market Commentary: Black Sea Instability and Trade War Influences
There were some jitters this week as Russia and Ukraine stepped up assaults ahead of what may become talks to end the conflict. Alongside concerns about a kinetic war is the uncertainty around the incoming Trump Administration’s aggressions in trade policy.It should be noted that geopolitical u...
Cattle on Feed Report
USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today. Once again, placements surprised to the upside compared to pre-report analysts’ consensus expectations. The total cattle on feed inventory was 11.986 million head, which was slightly above last year’s 11.956 million head. Total feedlot inve...
WPI Quarterly Grain Balance Sheet Forecasts
The latest updates and model runs from WPI’s grain balance sheet and pricing forecasts show that corn and wheat are likely to see stronger-than-expected demand that should create upside potential for cash and futures markets. Conversely, soybeans are expected to see weaker demand (particularly...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 November)
Ocean Freight Comments - 22 November 2024By Matt HerringtonThe major story behind dry bulk freight markets remains the same: slack demand causing additional weakness in rates. The downturn in rates is accelerating as markets head into the holiday season, which is usually a lull period for freig...
Market Commentary: New Lows for Soybeans; Corn, Wheat Fall on Export Data
The CBOT was mostly lower for the day with corn, wheat, and the entire soy complex finding their way into the red for various reasons. Wheat initially rallied on rising tensions and attacks between Rusia and Ukraine, with Ukraine accusing Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missil...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview
The monthly Cattle on Feed report will be released tomorrow. Analysts’ pre-report consensus estimates are for the total inventory on feed to be 100 percent of last year’s 11.9 million head, at a range of estimates between 99.5 percent and 101.3 percent of 1 November 2023. This would be 11.6 mil...
Oilseed Highlights: Continued Pressure from South America and Policy Uncertainties
The MarketDespite a decent USDA Export Sales report, the market continues to be weighed down by the large developing South American soybean crop. Soybean prices rose in the overnight market on short-covering but they resumed their decline on Thursday, falling below trendline support. March soyb...
Market Commentary: Soy Complex Falls on Brazilian Weather; Wheat Rises on Ukraine News
The Thanksgiving holiday isn’t until next week, but the CBOT is starting to feel like traders are taking their vacation time a little early. Trading volumes were muted on Wednesday and other than the KC wheat market and soyoil futures, none of the major ag markets made major technical moves. Ma...
Turkey is a Turkey
And we don’t mean Türkiye. Turkey can mean unsuccessful and the production and trade in the domesticated large bird called the turkey leaves much to be desired. It originated in North America and that is where it has mostly stayed. The U.S. produces about half the world’s turkey meat. U.S. and...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 11 – 15 November 2024Russian Union of Grain producers and exporters announced that winter wheat area for 2025/26 may drop to 15.4 Mha which will be the smallest planted winter crops area since 2018/19. Particularly, wheat area may drop by 0.9 Mha to 16.3 Mha, and after wi...
Market Commentary: Price Action Follows One of Two Factors
The CBOT saw distinctly mixed trade with price action being largely determined by one of two factors: either bullishness from Ukraine’s attack on interior Russia or bearishness from favorable weather in South America. Based solely upon that statement, you can probably figure out which markets d...
China-Brazil Bilateral at the G20 Summit: New Deals to Be Announced
The G20 meets in Rio de Janeiro this week, and Presidents Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva of Brazil and Xi Jinping of China have a bilateral side meeting on their respective calendars. The agenda is focused on promoting development strategies between China and Brazil.Brazil’s Ag Minister Carlos Fav...
Farm Bill Deficiencies; Transatlantic Tensions; GMO Correction
Farm Bill DeficienciesU.S. Senate Democrats have finally laid down their marker in a bicameral negotiation over a farm bill renewal. In it, Democrats conceded to a House Republican initiative to double spending on export promotion programs. However, they did not accept the Republican position t...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGIONEgypt’s strategic wheat reserves are at 4.6 months. This is a little lower than usual due to delays in wheat shipments from Russia.Iraq advises that is has sent 50 truckloads of aid to Syria, mainly wheat. The aid will be used to support...
Livestock Industry Margins
Livestock margins continue to be characterized by weakness in the packing sector and strength in producer profitability. Last week, both beef and pork packer margins fell due to weakness in meat prices and beef margins scored their third straight weekly loss and pork margins their second. The d...
WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 18 November)
Update for 1 April 2024: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...
Agriculture Committees in the 119th Congress
With the Republicans maintaining control of the House, Representative G.T. Thompson (R-PA) will retain the gavel as committee chairman, unless he is nominated for Secretary of Agriculture by President-elect Trump. Thompson’s name has been mentioned more frequently as of late as a potential nomi...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat The wheat harvest in Argentina is progressing at a steady pace. Last week, the harvested area share increased by 5 percentage points, bringing the total to 17 percent of the sown area. The harvest begins in the north and gradually moves southward. In the northwest, the harvest is nea...
Market Commentary: CBOT Rallies on Ukraine War Developments, Fund Buying
The CBOT was mostly higher to start the week with markets reacting to Friday’s CFTC data as well as news that will impact the Ukraine-Russia war. First, the CFTC data showed managed money traders engaged in a surprise, massive buying spree in corn last week, a move that sparked support in futur...
RFK, Jr. Equals Opportunity; Quarter Century of GMO’s
RFK, Jr. Equals OpportunityRobert F. Kennedy, Jr. wants to eliminate processed foods, artificial colorings, chemicals, and other broadly named boogeymen. He and his ilk are social media trolls that disparage the regulated and regulators alike, fabricating conspiracy theories about Big Food want...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Last week, the European Parliament voted on the EUDR regulation and officially delayed the full implementation of the ruling until December 2025.After a soggy start to autumn for most of continental Europe, particularly the western regions, the recent weather and two-week for...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
The major finding of Friday’s CFTC report is that funds are increasingly and somewhat aggressively bullish corn as they rapidly expanded a small long into a near-100,000 contract bullish position. Over the period 5 through 12 November, funds bought over 96,000 contracts, which is the 11th large...
Market Commentary: Today was Green but Headwinds for the Week
Corn, soymeal, live cattle and lean hogs all traded lower during the morning start but by the end of the day, only lean hogs ended lower. There were modest volumes being traded on Friday for most contracts, except feeder cattle where it was nearly double the five-day average.December soymeal hi...
Cow-Calf Margins Steady in November, Herd Expansion Still Likely
Despite recent decreases in feeder cattle futures and rising feedstuff costs, estimated cow-calf producer margins are largely unchanged from WPI’s October estimate. The stable and positive financial environment means that producers are still facing strong financial incentives to expand the U.S...
McSustainability Through Feed Efficiency
McDonalds has entered the sustainability space by partnering with Syngenta and paying cattle producers to use Syngenta’s Enogen Trait corn to improve feed efficiency. Enogen corn contains an enzyme, alpha amylase. This enzyme has been added during the ethanol production process to induce starch...
Livestock Roundup: Turkey Production Adjusted Down
Turkey production in August totaled 434.7 million pounds, slightly above July production but down 11 percent year-over-year. August slaughter was down 15 percent year-over-year, but heavier weights in August (32.25 pounds) offset the reduced slaughter. Based on the August production data, estim...
Market Commentary: Biofuel and Trade Policy Worries Pressure CBOT along with Dollar Strength
The CBOT saw another day of pronounced weakness with expectations for larger global soybean and wheat production and stocks in 2025 weighing on values. Product demand in the soy complex has also been a huge negative factor recently with uncertainty over U.S. biofuels policy causing a sharp redu...
Oilseed Highlights: Multi-Bearish Factors
The MarketThe January soybean contract has been sliding all week and despite support at the 20-day moving average of $10.01/ST, it closed today below $10/bushel for the first time this month. The reasons are many including: a rising dollar value, 2) large impending South American production, 3)...
Market Commentary: Bearish Beat Goes On
The CBOT was essentially all red on Wednesday with traders finding little support from either the fundamental or technical components of commodity price analysis. Wheat was the downside leader for the day as a strong dollar, improving conditions in the Plains, and increasingly tepid exports fro...
EU Studies Trading Houses
As part of its witch hunt for unfair market practices, the EU Parliament’s AGRI Committee requested a study of the major agricultural commodity trading companies and their impacts. The study may inform populists in the U.S. that also see consolidated industries as inherently harmful, but...
USA Gone Nuts
While oilseeds receive much of the attention, tree nuts, which are technically a seed and containing oil, have gone even more gangbusters for U.S. producers in recent years. Almonds have received much of the focus as the U.S. produces nearly 80 percent of the crop and a comparable share of the...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 4 – 8 November 2024We have heard the voices from various sources forecasting a new grain crop in Russia and most of them differ in numbers. We will have to deal with terminology like bunker weight (straight from the combine) and standard weight (cleaned and dried accepted...
Market Commentary: Funds Resume Soy Complex Selling; Wheat Falls on Improved Weather
The CBOT was almost uniformly in the red on Tuesday with any bullish supply-side implications from the November WASDE largely forgotten (or ignored) amid bearish demand-side developments. The recent rally in the U.S. dollar is threatening to undo much of the export demand gains the market has w...
Cuban Pipedream
Some in the U.S. agriculture community have spent years trying to improve sales to Cuba, which have increased though from a very small base. Now there is even less reason to think they’ll succeed. Their pipedream has been a hungry population of around 11 million people just 60 miles off the Ame...
Trump’s Tariff Plan; Whither Europe; RTO Beats WFH
Trump’s Tariff PlanFew things attract more speculation than how President-Elect Donald Trump will model his plan to increase tariffs on imports. Some economists have taken his most exaggerated claims and predict they will cause slower economic growth and higher inflation. At least one advisor s...
Political Landscape Taking Shape
After the 2024 elections, the Republicans look to have taken control of Congress, along with a Trump victory, providing a Republican triple sweep. The Senate GOP majority is 53 to 47; and the House GOP majority is still TBD. However, as of today, the Republicans have secured 215 seats, and Demo...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional UpdatesMEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGIONPakistan has decided to allow the importation of GMO soybeans from the U.S. – critics say that this decision was made without proper risk assessment and was only done due to pressure from large industrial companies. Forty...
Livestock Industry Margins
WPI is excited to present the latest edition of our newest data-driven publication Ag Perspectives Quant: U.S. Livestock Industry Profit Margins. This report offers a comprehensive look at the profitability of the U.S. beef and pork sectors, from cow-calf and farrow-to-finish producers up the v...
Market Commentary: CBOT Slips as Demand Worries Overtake Supply-Side Surprises
The November WASDE offered mixed influences for the major ag markets with USDA making surprise cuts to the U.S. corn and soybean crops and ending stocks, which rallied markets on Friday. The report also, however, cast doubts on the demand-side outlook for both crops and wheat, and that is what...
Deep Bench to Fight RFK; China Market Risk; Thankless Job
Deep Bench to Fight RFKBeing the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is usually a pretty good job. It involves doling out billions of dollars, the constituency is dominated by courteous country people, and controversies tend to be minor. The person serving the longest in any Cabinet position was Jame...
Rice as a Stable Crop
Last year, India restricted non-Basmati rice exports believing there would be a weather-related short supply. Production was ample and now the country faces record high inventories that will likely be dumped on the world market. The OECD calculates that Indian farmers are implicitly taxed $120...
Senate Committee Changes and Ethanol Legislation
As WPI noted a week ago on 4 November, As a general rule, a Republican agenda is likely to be friendlier to liquid fuels, especially petroleum fuels, whereas a Democrat agenda is more likely to include a role for electric vehicles, and a renewable fuels policy that will focus on reducing c...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat As of the end of the first week of November, 12 percent of Argentina’s sown wheat area has already been harvested. Harvesting is progressing quickly in the country’s north, with yields that are low but within expectations. Although a few more weeks will pass before the harvest is wid...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
The major finding of Friday’s CFTC report was the confirmation that funds have officially flipped their formerly massive net short in corn to a net long. After buying back nearly 40,000 contracts last week, funds now sit long 3,035 contracts as of 5 November, a position which was extended signi...
Market Commentary: Somewhat Tumultuous WASDE
The November WASDE report usually involves some tweaking of the numbers by USDA, and that is all it mostly was today, but with some quirky impacts. First, there were a few surprises but not dramatic ones and yet the report spurred larger to outsized volume in trading across the grain and oilsee...
Who Might Be the Next Ag Secretary?
As most Presidents-elect do, former President and President-elect Donald Trump has named his new White House Chief of Staff as his first appointment. It is Susi S. Wiles. Wiles was the co-manager of Trump’s 2024 campaign, and also was a key strategist focused on Florida in his 2016 and 2020 cam...
WPI 2025 Hog and Pork Outlook
U.S. hog producers saw a mixed year in 2024 with early-year prices bringing poor profitability while the dramatic hog rally since the summer has lifted financial fortunes significantly. A major component of those rising prices was the unexpected surge in pork demand, which pushed the cutout to...
Market Commentary: Soybeans, Soyoil Rally on Export Numbers; Cattle Gain on Macro Strength
The CBOT was mixed on Thursday following the news of Donald Trump’s election to President of the United States with markets, particularly corn and cattle futures, seeing continued support from “risk on” trade. It’s not necessarily that traders and investors are particularly excited about Trump’...
Transatlantic Trade War; Traders Beat Pollsters; Transatlantic Lesson
Transatlantic Trade WarU.S. equity markets rose yesterday on news of Donald Trump’s victory, while shares in Europe fell. The EU is America’s biggest trading partner and Trump promises tariffs. EU officials are strategizing on how to deal with a Trump presidency, with some urging cooperation, a...
Livestock Roundup: Beef Overview
Little to no action has been reported in the cash markets and asking prices are back at $190/cwt and higher. Cattle supply numbers are tighter in the south than in the north, and carcass weights took a pause from the steep rise that has taken them to all-time highs this year. The latest report...
Oilseed Highlights: On an Upswing
The MarketThe January soybean contract is up 3.2 percent on the week and has is now up 3.5 percent from its late October low at 979/bushel, but it is still 5 percent below its late August high at 1083/bushel.11072024oilseeds_beans.png 1.16 MBUntil today’s turnaround following very large export...
Market Commentary: Mild Election Impacts
Outside markets closed higher and the dollar was up, but not because of bullishness over Mr. Trump’s victory. The business sector likes his pledge for lower taxes and less regulation but is less enthralled with his attraction to tariffs. In fact, the tariffs are expected to be inflationary, cau...
The Day After
The political establishment in Washington is stunned following yesterday's rout by Donald Trump and the Republicans. The Democrats’ arch nemesis not only survived everything they threw at him, but he also took an increasing share of the minority voting block that they claimed as their own. It w...
WPI Preliminary 2025 Acreage Forecasts
The polling for the 2024 U.S. Presidential election had significant forecast errors and history will likely judge the numbers as “wrong”. While it’s hard to argue against such judgement when the results proved a historic sweep for Trump versus predictions of a tight race, the pre-election polls...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 28 October – 1 November 2024Russian analysts revised the 2024 Russian crop downwards to 128.8 MMT without newly occupied territories but with Crimea which was occupied a decade ago. This new forecast is down 11 percent from the previous year. Wheat is at 85.6 MMT – down 8...
Market Commentary: Election Day Brings CBOT Gains
It’s election day in the U.S. and the nation will decide on new leadership for the White House and Congress, though results may not be available for days or possibly even weeks. National polls indicate a tight race between candidates Trump and Harris, but betting markets tell a different story...
Tax Policy Outlook Post Election
After the votes are fully counted, as a new Administration forms, and Congress organizes, WPI will take a deeper look into the policy implications of today’s election. From today’s point of view, unless this election is an unexpected blowout (countering polling data that shows it neck and neck...
EU Confirmation Hearings; Japanese Independence; Lemonades out of Lemons; Border War
EU Confirmation HearingsIn a few months, it will be the turn of either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris’s cabinet nominees to seek confirmation by the legislature but this week it is Europe’s Commission designates confronting the hurdle of the European Parliament (EP). Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional UpdatesMEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGIONTunisia will shortly receive a shipment of 33,000 MT of U.S. corn, the first shipment in quite a while. The U.S. Grains Council office in Tunis says that they expect more U.S. corn imports in the coming weeks.Morocco has...
Livestock Industry Margins
WPI is excited to present the second edition of our newest data-driven publication Ag Perspectives Quant: U.S. Livestock Industry Profit Margins. This report offers a comprehensive look at the profitability of the U.S. beef and pork sectors, from cow-calf and farrow-to-finish producers up the v...
Market Commentary: Grains Rise on Export Demand; Soyoil, Livestock Fall on Technical Trade
The CBOT was mostly higher to start the week with fresh daily export sales announcements and a solid Export Inspections report underpinning the day’s moves. While corn, soybeans, and KC wheat all settled higher for the day, gains were muted as few traders were interested in adding significant r...
Renewable Fuel Policy Outlook in 2025
Tomorrow is election day; the make-up of Congress and who is in the White House is expected to have an impact on renewable fuel policy in 2025. As a general rule, a Republican agenda is likely to be friendlier to liquid fuels, especially petroleum fuels, whereas a Democrat agenda is more likely...
Transatlantic Inverse; Farm Bill Chances
Transatlantic InverseDepending on tomorrow’s election outcome, American businesses will either be saddled with more taxes, regulations, and attacks on consolidation, or be hit with higher import tariffs and maybe the goofy ideas of people like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. By contrast, Europe has now...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat The long-awaited rains have finally arrived in southeastern Buenos Aires, with precipitation totals ranging from 20–50 mm. While the rainfall isn’t sufficient to complete the wheat crop, it provides relief to an area where plants were beginning to suffer. For now, it halts the declin...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Algeria bought 600 KMT of wheat in its tender that closed on Monday, buying the full volume permitted, and prices are rumored to be near $263/MT C&F. Traders suspect much of the wheat is Black Sea-origin, given the diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers right now...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 29 October, funds continued their aggressive short covering in the corn market with strong export sales justifying the move. Funds reduced their net short position by about 60 percent last week, and now hold a relatively small position of 35,000 contracts short. The continued exit from...
State Directed Meat; Living Space
State Directed MeatUSDA has been issuing loans and grants to startup livestock businesses with the goal of diversifying the industry, providing producers with more options, and lowering the price of meat. Now Pure Prairie Poultry of Minnesota, a beneficiary of $38.7 million in loan guarantees a...
Market Commentary: A Week of Notable Numbers
Except for soymeal, the rest of the grains and oilseeds contracts traded higher in the overnight, and opened higher this morning, but only corn and soyoil ended the day higher. New contract highs were scored today in lean hogs and Malaysian palm oil. A new contract low was marked today fo...
October Jobs Report Tepid
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the October jobs report this morning. Total nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged in October (+12,000), and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent. The pre-report consensus was for an additional 100,000 payroll...
U.S. Soybean Crush Margin Outlook
The three legs of the U.S. soybean crush have each seen interesting and divergent dynamics over the past month that have influenced the crush margin outlook. Notably, soymeal prices have slumped $30/MT lower since early October and are hovering near contract lows just below the $300 mark. Conve...
Market Commentary: CBOT Debates Following Seasonal Rules
The CBOT was mixed for the day with wheat futures sinking lower after the HRW and SRW growing regions received favorable rains Wednesday and early Thursday. That, combined with export pressure from Russia and the Black Sea countries, put wheat on the defensive with funds emerging as net sellers...
Oilseed Highlights: Bounce off the Bottom?
The MarketJanuary soybeans have now rebounded a second day in a row after opening the week lower. While it came within 10-cents of the contract low, exports are booming and most of the bearish inputs (better weather and large South American crops, a weaker real, harvest pressure, and rising glo...
Livestock Roundup: Broiler Outlook
Broiler slaughter was 158.86 million head last week, up from 158.139 million the week before and continuing to run above a year ago. Broiler production in the last quarter of 2024 is forecast to be up 4 percent, bringing the total annual production up 2.2 percent from 2023. Any miss in th...
Market Commentary: End-of-Month Trade, Profit Taking Create Mixed Markets
The CBOT was mixed in moderate-volume trade on Wednesday with markets across the board seeing impacts from end-of-month position adjusting and profit taking. Wheat futures were higher on poor U.S. conditions ratings and drought conditions in the Southern Plains, despite forecasts of rains this...
Misdirected Fire; Over-Capacity
Misdirected FireThe Kamala Harris campaign is frustrated that the economy is hot, inflation has dissipated to just 2.4 percent, and yet voters are not feeling it. Politicians learned long ago to never tell the voters they are wrong and have misperceptions. Consequently, she has been acknowledgi...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 21 – 25 October 2024The Russian grain markets remained stable on the export front and slightly bearish after recent peaks. Domestic prices are trying to catch up with export price levels and even in Siberia, prices were recovering. Global pricing effects export prices in...
Market Commentary: Poor Conditions Rally Wheat; Big Crop(s) Pressure Soybeans; Hogs Hit New Highs
The CBOT was mostly higher on Tuesday with the wheat market in the lead on worrying crop conditions and persistent drought in the HRW growing region. USDA’s initial crop ratings for the winter wheat crop were the second lowest for the week since the mid-1980s, which means the rains in the two-w...
Livestock Industry Margins
WPI is excited to present a new, weekly, data-driven publication Ag Perspectives Quant: U.S. Livestock Industry Profit Margins. This report offers a comprehensive look at the profitability of the U.S. beef and pork sectors, from cow-calf and farrow-to-finish producers up the value chain through...
Interest Rate Outlook
The Fed meets next week, the day after the election. It looks likely there will be a rate cut again for the second time in as many meetings. The federal funds futures market is pricing in a 95.4 percent probability of a cut. At the September meeting, Fed members signaled another 50 basis point...
Post-Election Transatlantic
The EU’s dependency on the U.S. for both defense and economic well-being has focused discussions in Brussels on what the relationship will look like should Donald Trump win on 5 November. The Biden Administration initiated a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in 2021 with designs to coordinate...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional UpdatesMEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, and AFRICA – MEA REGIONTurkey’s wheat production is seen dropping by 5.5 percent to 20.8 MMT according to Turksat estimates. It also sees barley production down by 11 percent to 8.2 MMT and corn down by 8 percent to 8.3 MMT. Soybean prod...
Market Commentary: Oil Drags CBOT Lower; Hogs Hit New Highs; Cattle Rise After Report
The CBOT was mostly lower for the day with the sharp decline in crude oil futures dragging soyoil, the broader soy complex, and corn and wheat lower. There was little fresh fundamental news to guide commodity futures for the day, which gave the oil market’s plunge an outsized influence on ag fu...
Newsom for President; Fake Meat Lacks Standing
Newsome for PresidentUntil this past Friday, U.S. ethanol producers feared that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) might make an effort to limit the marketing of their products in the Golden State. Now they are singing in the streets as California Governor Gavin Newsom instructed CARB to...
Food Price Outlook Improves
There are often lags in time between when consumers notice a change in the economy, they begin to voice concerns, politicians begin to echo those concerns, and ultimately policymakers take some form of action, if any. Food price inflation is a perfect example of that dynamic. Democratic preside...
RFK Jr Role in a Potential Trump Admin Worrying Aggies
With the election one week from tomorrow, many aggies are turning their attention to the probable role of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a Trump Administration should Trump win the election. Over the last week, this is literally the biggest topic of conversation among this analyst’s contacts and sour...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Russia’s winter crops may see 1.5 million hectares (Mha) go unseeded this year due to poor weather in key growing regions. Originally, 20 Mha was expected to be sown to all winter crops. Grain production in 2025 is unlikely to exceed 120 MMT now, due to the acreage reduction...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Weather Argentina saw continued rainfall throughout last week and so far during October, nearly all of the country’s agricultural regions experienced at least some precipitation. In areas like the Nucleus Region, totals have even exceeded historical averages for October. This rainfall has...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 22 October, funds engaged in the expected short covering in the corn market amid the unexpected surge in exports. Funds’ total buying volume, however, was below expectations at just shy of 20,000 contracts though they certainly added to that number after Tuesday’s data reporting deadlin...
Market Commentary: Mix Week Reflecting Fundamentals
Yesterday’s bullish Export Sales report was followed by more sales of corn and soybeans today. However, there had already been sufficient gains in the futures market this week and current sales are simply on track with USDA’s forecast. The trade does not want to get too far out in front of the...
Cattle on Feed Report
USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today, which was mostly in line with pre-report expectations; only placements came outside of the consensus forecast. 10252024dj.jpg 50.4 KBSeptember marks the beginning of the fall run for cattle placements. Placements last month at 2.156 million...
Forecasting 2025 Cattle Inventories: Small Herd Increases Expected
As WPI has written about several times recently, the beef industry is eagerly awaiting the January Cattle Inventory report from USDA to see whether producers are starting to expand the herd. This information will be valuable for gauging cattle supplies in 2025 and 2026 and will help set pricing...
Market Commentary: Corn, Wheat Rise on Export Data; Soybeans Fall on South American Weather
Exports remain the name of the commodity game this week with all eyes on the UDSA daily “flash” export sales announcements as well as this week’s weekly Export Sales report. On Thursday, both of those factors did not disappoint and gave the already bullish corn market another boost. USDA report...
Oilseed Highlights: Steady Under a Delicate Balance
The MarketU.S. soybean exports have been impressive, but funds continue to focus on South American rains. For the week to date, November soybean futures are higher but cannot maintain a close back up over $10/bushel. They are challenging resistance but remain below the 50-day MA at 1007.25/bush...
BRICS Grain Exchange; Transatlantic Gaslighting
BRICS Grain ExchangeVladmir Putin used his BRICS conference in Kazan, Russia to formally suggest the creation of a grain exchange by the bloc of countries. He said such an exchange could later be expanded to other products and that it would " contribute to the formation of fair and predictable...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview
USDA will release its Cattle on Feed report tomorrow; the pre-report consensus of analysts’ estimates is for the inventory of cattle on feed as of 1 October to be 99.7 percent of last year; September placements and marketings are expected to be 95.8 and 102 percent respectively of last year’s t...
Market Commentary: More Exports, More Gains
A sixth straight day of daily “flash” export sales announcements from USDA sent CBOT corn and soybean futures higher with funds covering shorts and commercials positioning bullishly too. The export demand for corn caught the market by surprise and has created the current rally, while the season...
Inflation Disconnect; Economic Opinions
Inflation DisconnectEconomists including those at the Federal Reserve use so-called core inflation when assessing the level of rising prices in the economy. Core inflation excludes food and energy prices since they are considered more volatile, and less directly impacted by the Fed’s monetary p...
TFP as Focus
The International Monetary Fund increased its forecast for U.S. GDP growth this year to 2.8 percent, versus 0.8 percent for the Euro Area and the 0.9 percent average for the non-U.S. G-7 countries. Competitiveness is said to be the primary term in Brussels these days, as it should be. The avera...
Mercosur Regional Analysis: Soybeans
Last week, soybean trading saw a lot of activity, particularly with Brazilian old crop shipments and increased movement in U.S. new crop sales. CNF China trade levels began at 240X for the PNW and 255X for the U.S. Gulf, rising rapidly due to several factors. A drop in Chicago futures triggered...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 14 – 18 October 2024Russian grain markets remained slightly bullish but not as bullish as a week ago. The biggest concern of all grain exporters is a “threat” from the Russian Grain Export Union that October export prices should be $240/MT and that to make this happen the...
Market Commentary: Exports, Weather Concerns Push CBOT Higher
The CBOT was mostly higher on Tuesday as export demand continues to fuel what looks like the start of a demand-led swing higher in the markets. Tuesday marked the fifth straight business day with a “flash” export sales announcement for corn, with Mexico responsible for essentially all of the de...
U.S. Dietary Guidelines: Booze and Junk Food
Every five years, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are updated. The new guidelines will be issued next year for 2025-2030. This guidance provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and...
Policy Shortz
U.S. – EU Reset: The transatlantic relationship must be reset after the upcoming election. Brussels produced a state-by-state report on Europe’s trade and investment engagement to help set the environment. U.S. technology firms argue it is ludicrous for Europe to think it can be competitive in...
Bangladesh Food Import Projection
Bangladesh is the third largest food importer in the world. It imports over $15 billion worth of food annually or about 11 percent of its total food consumption. Imports include 5 MMT of grain (3.57 MMT is wheat), plus palm oil, milk powder, and other products. Roughly 3.5 percent of its food i...
The Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFRICA – MEA REGIONAfrica spends $75 billion every year importing cereals according to the African Development Bank – 50 MMT being wheat – 27 MMT imported by North Africa, 12 MMT by East Africa and 9 MMT by West Africa. Wheat...
Market Commentary: Exports Rally Corn, Soybeans but Pressure Wheat; Hogs Hit New Contract Highs
The CBOT saw mixed trade again to start the week with a slate of fresh daily “flash” export sales announcements supporting corn and soybeans, as did a generally positive Export Inspections report. That helped soybeans recover from Friday’s drubbing and allowed the corn market to follow through...
Biggest Monopoly; Aggies Challenge Trump; Food Safety Risks and Perceptions
Biggest MonopolyReflecting voter concerns about food inflation, both Harris and Trump are attacking the food system and implying concerns about monopoly power. But no industry is as monopolistic as politics where consumer choice is often limited to just two parties. Voters are near evenly split...
Aging, Shrinking Dairy Herd Tied to Beef Dynamics
There has been much discussion this year to the size of the beef cattle herd. The year started with the lowest overall cattle herd since 1951. Demand for beef, high prices for beef and cattle, and marginal increases in imported feeder cattle have all helped maintain production, as has heavier s...
The Mercosur Regional Analysis
WeatherThe week continued with rain in some areas of the agricultural region that spread water across almost the entire region, ending a 10-day period of instability. The exceptions were the western part of Buenos Aires Province, which received only a few millimeters despite needing more, and t...
Olive Oil Volatility
Bloomberg notes the problems confronting small scale olive oil producers in Spain and Italy. Production is volatile and has been under duress from drought and climate change. As a result, the price has risen, attracting investors who are creating larger scale farms. The article says, “The Super...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Kazakhstan and Egypt are working to negotiated trade terms that would allow wheat to trade from the former country to the latter. The two countries are reportedly working on resolving issues that prevent Kazakhstan from participating in GASC tenders and are discussing the pos...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 15 October, funds reversed their short covering trends and emerged as net sellers in the soybean, corn, and soymeal markets after the bearish October WASDE and shift towards wetter weather in South America. Funds doubled their short position in soybean futures and are now short a small...
Market Commentary: Harvest Pressure Outweighs Demand
There was modest to lower volume generally today, except in wheat where there was a gang beating. Wheat closed lower in the overnight, opened lower this morning, and sealed the deal with losses at the close. Soyoil was treated similarly but soybeans and corn each were higher in the overnight an...
Food Inflation and the Food Service Sector
September retail sales rose slightly more than expected and the underlying details of the report were solid. Sales rose 0.4 percent in September versus a consensus expected rise of 0.3 percent, while revisions to the prior months’ activity pushed the overall gain to 0.5 percent. The monthly inc...
Cow-Calf Margins Outperform Forecasts, Imply Herd Rebuilding
With the start of the fall weaning and marketing program for most of America’s cow-calf producers, we’re starting to see the first realized profits for the sector this year. From January through September, WPI’s cow-calf profit models are built upon the assumption that most producers will marke...
Market Commentary: Turnaround Thursday on Exports, Weather
Bears started out the week in full control of the CBOT, but their grip loosened on Thursday and bulls managed to post at turnaround in several markets. Chief among the turnaround was corn futures where an early dip below $4.00 in the December contract triggered short covering and some commercia...
Livestock Roundup: A Look at Cattle Herd Rebuilding
As WPI reported yesterday, the total supply of beef per capita is up this year over last based on imports and heavier slaughter weights; both are related to the pace of beef cow salughter. A bigger percent of fed cattle in the mix has resulted in heavier slaughter weights, as well as feeder cat...
Oilseed Highlights: Under Pressure but Hovering
The MarketToday’s IGC report increased the growth in global soybean carryout and thus reinforced the bearish trend in the November futures contract. There are still counterfactuals such as Brazil’s delayed planting, low moisture U.S. pods, plus wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) and Brown stem rot (Cada...
State Control of Markets – Russia; State Control of Markets – U.S
State Control of MarketsRussia’s agriculture ministry recently “suggested” that grain exporters not sell wheat internationally below the minimum price of $250/MT FOB. The minimum price approach is less clumsy than export quotas but is a harder stop than Moscow’ use of export taxes to try and ma...
Market Commentary: Corn Rallies on Export Sales; Bean Bears Return in Heavy Options Trade
The CBOT was mixed on Wednesday with corn rising after the USDA reported “flash” export sales of over 1.9 MMT of corn to Mexico and unknown destinations combined. The news put a bid under futures and caused corn spreads to firm slightly with funds buying back some of what they sold earlier this...
The Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 7 – 11 October 2024The world has been watching the 2024 Russian grain harvest forecasts, especially wheat production. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture was not making any sharp moves in one direction or the other, while domestic analysts have revised the 2024 grain crop...
Asymmetric on Tariffs
Most economists are clear in describing tariffs as a border tax. Their impacts include increasing costs on consumers and reducing trade, and thus self-harming a nation’s economic well-being. Yet, it is difficult to identify a nation that doesn’t use tariffs, and most utilize them more than the...
Market Commentary: Bears Win Again, but Crush Report Buoys Soybeans
Bears were in control of the CBOT for the second straight day with very few bullish news items seeming to exist on the horizon. Between improving weather forecasts for the Northern Hemisphere, lower threat of a La Nina this year, strong harvest progress in the U.S., large crop forecasts for Bra...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Algeria decided to bar French companies from its wheat import tenders due to France’s support for Morocco’s continued sovereignty over the Western Sahara region. All tender participants have been advis...
Planned Website Downtime Wednesday, 16 October
WPI is completing a series of upgrades to our website that will require about 50 minutes of downtime on Wednesday, 16 October starting at 12:00 PM EDT. There is never a “good” time for a website to be down, but this was deemed to be among the least disruptive to our U.S. and interna...
Red Meat and Poultry Situation
As WPI reported last week, the October WASDE increased its projection for beef production by 205 million pounds on higher slaughter and heavier carcass weights and increased the 2025 forecast for beef production by 300 million pounds. Nonetheless, October slaughter is starting slowly. Total sla...
Farm Subsidies on the March
Subsidies can increase output and there are many ways to subsidize an industry, but that doesn’t mean that countries should do it. Cost of Production: The EU badly wants to become self-sufficient in plant protein. More than four decades ago Europe lost a dispute settlement cas...
Market Commentary: Bears Gain Control; Soybeans End Below $10, Corn Breaks Support
Bears regained control of the CBOT ag market trade on Monday, seemingly not because of the WASDE but rather because of shifting weather forecasts and apparently receding threats. The weather in South America is trending more favorably for the corn and soybean crops down there, and showers in th...
Politics: Will 2024 Election Yield an Unprecedented Triple Flip?
The 2024 election is three weeks from tomorrow. This cycle has been unusual. The campaign started as a Biden versus Trump rematch of the 2020 campaign, the first such rematch since 1956 (only the seventh time in history and only the second time since 1900). However, President Biden stepped down...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Political tensions between Algeria and France reportedly prompted the former country to exclude its traditionally favored European trading partner from a recent wheat purchase tender. Algeria in its latest tender specifically requested no submissions from France and purchase...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat After weeks of anticipation, rains finally arrived in the most needed areas of Argentina. At the beginning of the week, the central and northern parts of Córdoba, central and northern Santa Fe, and parts of Entre Ríos received significant rainfall. Toward the end of th...
Going up with a Bang
A futures contract that persistently moves up or down by just a penny or two each day imposes its own burden on the market. While speculators are said to prosper from volatility, and sellers want higher prices and buyers prefer them lower, everyone prefers a story. Apparently, the cotton market...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 8 October, funds continued to exit their formerly massive short positions in corn and soybean futures and now hold a small fraction of that commitment. Funds covered 40 percent of their short position in soybeans and are now only short 18,000 contracts. Similarly, funds bought back half...
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...
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...
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...
Market Commentary: Only Pork Survives the WASDE Intact
The U.S. crop situation for 2024/25 was largely firmed up by today’s USDA October WASDE report. Net, net – there is a lot of grain available. Not enough for any precipitous drop in prices today, but only Lean Hogs managed to end the day higher. Today’s report reinforced...
WASDE Outlook for Livestock: More Beef
Today’s WASDE increased the price outlook for 2024 fed steers after dropping it in September. The September WASDE dropped the fed steer price by $3/cwt to $185.11/cwt from the month prior. Today the price forecast was adjusted up $1/cwt. The forecast for the 2025 annual...
Cocoa Market Update: Prices Rise as Stocks Fall
At the end of July 2024, WPI published an article looking at the drivers of the cocoa market’s massive rally in 2023 and 2024 and that offered an outlook for MY 2024/25. This article offers a brief update on market conditions and developments that have occurred in the two months since our...
Market Commentary: Wheat Rises as Russia Considers Export Ban; Cattle Extend Rally
The CBOT saw wheat emerge as the upside leader for the day with multiple bullish stories offering support, including one from Reuters that indicates Russia may be considering a ban on grain exports. Details are nonexistent, but there is reportedly a meeting soon between the ag ministry and grai...
Oilseed Highlights: Pre-WASDE but Relatively Firm
The Market The soybean market has been sliding heading into tomorrow USDA October WASDE report. The trade has positioned itself in the middle of the September trading range and is still positioned in a somewhat bullish position slightly above the 50-day trading average. The market has been tren...
Livestock Roundup: Red Meat Exports
August trade data was released yesterday. High prices of U.S. beef exports have kept exports down. Compared to August 2023, total exports were 102,682 MT, which was the lowest monthly total since January. For the first eight months of the year, January through August, exports at 856,834 MT were...
Market Commentary: CBOT Trades Weather and WASDE Expectations
Trade at the CBOT on Wednesday was dominated by two factors: global weather and preparations for the October WASDE report, which will come out on Friday. The weather was mostly relevant for wheat as parts of Russia, Ukraine, Australia, and the U.S. Plains battle persistent and increasingly dry...
Policy Potpourri
Good Many Organisms: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded this week to scientists at Google DeepMind using AI to predict the structure of proteins and inventing new ones. Capitaslizing on the opportunities, Ginkgo Bioworks announced that it would make available to researchers its API that u...
Say Cheese!
Ilena Peng from Bloomberg has written about the expansion of U.S. cheese exports. Former French President Charles de Gaulle once noted that his country has hundreds of different cheeses and the U.S. had hundreds of different religions. But the U.S. has since become a major producer of many diff...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 30 September – 4 October 2024 The first week of September proved bullish in European Russia and slightly bearish in the Asian part and Siberia. The weather factor is important but it’s not the key driver. It may become the decisive factor later on depending on...
Market Commentary: Brazil Rains, Crude Oil Selloff Sink Soy Complex; Cattle Extend Rally on Beef Demand
Trade at the CBOT was mostly lower on Tuesday with the soy complex leading the way south as weather models show more promising rains for South America. Soybeans turned sharply lower on the forecasts and scored a bearish technical day on the chart, with additional selling pressure coming from th...
War on Food Companies; Holding Back the Future
War on Food Companies Market skeptics like U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) have stepped up their attack on food companies by accusing them of price gouging by “squeezing profits out of consumers” through shrinkflation and avoiding federal taxes. They charge that comp...
USDA Announces Cattle Price Discovery Rule
Today, the Biden Administration issued an Advanced Notice of Public Rulemaking (ANPR) on Price Discovery and Transparency in Markets for Fed Cattle. This is the fifth livestock and poultry market regulation put forth under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&SA) and under the Biden Executive...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has a program that it says will reduce wheat imports and cut subsidies on bread. The plan is to blend wheat flour with local corn and sorghum flour. Savings, it is said, could be in the hundreds of millions...
Market Commentary: Harvest and Weather Pressure Continue
Clear weather and rolling combines in the Northern Hemisphere together with prospective showers in South America maintain pressure on commodity futures. However, volume today was relatively low except in soybeans and livestock. While soybeans closed lower, the end of Golden Week and China&rsquo...
Allowing Private Contributions to Conservation Programs to Create Public Assets
USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) closed the comment period for the implementing rules for the Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to Incentivize Natural Solutions (SUSTAINS) Act last month. The Act authorizes USDA to accept private contributions to cha...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Despite the lack of rain, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange maintains its outlook for this season’s wheat crop. As we mentioned previously, the rains in August and September were disappointing, and thus far in October they’ve been absent. Additionally, we are seeing rising tempe...
2024/25 Corn Outlook: Strong Demand Shifts Prices Higher
In light of the surprisingly bullish Grain Stocks data, WPI has updated our quarterly corn market outlook to reflect the supply and demand trends reflected in the USDA’s most recent data. Since the September edition of our quarterly outlook, WPI’s forecast has shifted to feature sma...
Market Commentary: Next Week’s Weather Makes or Breaks
It was another day lower for the grain and oilseeds sectors, and another day of weak volume for corn and the soy sector. The causes have not changed: A strengthening dollar Very good harvest weather in the U.S. Potentially better weather in South America late next week If good rains materiali...
U.S. Soybean Crush Margin Outlook
The recent strength in U.S. soyoil and soymeal prices has helped push “board” crush margin (i.e., the margin implied or calculated by CBOT futures contracts) to new highs with the VVX margin hitting $1.62/bushel and the HHH margins topping the $1.45 mark for the first time in over a...
Port Strike Suspended: A Look at Short-Term and Long-Term Issues
East and Gulf Coast port workers are back on the job today after striking on 1 October. Many of the affected ports will add weekend overtime hours to load trucks; several ports will remain closed to trucks today as containers are offloaded to prepared for resumptions of trucking. Importers repo...
WPI Website Restored
Apologies to those that had trouble accessing WPI's website and analysis articles. Service has now been restored. Please advise if you are still having any issues and thank you for your patience during this technology glitch. ...
Market Commentary: Multiple Influences from Macros to Weather
The somewhat bullish influence of Monday’s stocks report has now fully faded. The market today pretty much ignored a solid USDA Export Sales report and instead focused on mostly bearish factors: The EU is postponing enactment of its deforestation policy. Macro jitters around the Middle E...
Oilseed Highlights: EUDR Decision and South American Weather Weigh on Complex
The Market It has been a tough week thus far for soybeans and meal. The EU’s decision to delay its European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) means there will be no break for U.S. exporters in competition from South America and Southeast Asia. The two days of decline have November soy...
Livestock Roundup: Broiler Outlook
Hatcheries set 242.69 million eggs in incubators during the week ending 28 September, up 6.1 percent from a year ago. So far this year, egg sets are up 1.9 percent over last year, and to date through the second half of the year are up 3.5 percent. Last year, eggs set started trendng lower in J...
Coffee Rally Stalls as Weather Shifts, Bear Move Ahead?
Coffee futures have been on a massive rally in 2024 with the ICE “C” contract rising above $2.60/lb last week, breaching that point for just the fifth time since 1970. The catalyst for the rally has been well reported this year, with declining stocks and weather issues in major prod...
Market Commentary: Wheat Jumps Higher on Massive Egypt Imports; Soymeal Falls on EUDR News
Wheat remains the darling of the CBOT with more bullish news pouring into the complex. Today’s rally was sparked by reports that Egypt has booked over 3 MMT of wheat from the Black Sea (presumably Russia) to be exported over the next six months. That move comes as Russian wheat stocks are...
Ludditic Longshoremen; Symptom not Disease
Ludditic Longshoremen Labor strikes are always about money, working conditions and job protection but the latter is skyrocketing to the top. The U.S. East and Gulf Coast port workers’ strike is a prime example. Automation is threatening the number of longshoreman positions needed, and the...
Kenya’s Crop Choices
In yesterday’s WPI Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional analysis report, it was noted that Kenyan farmers are switching from growing maize to growing sweet potatoes. The latter being easier to grow than drought sensitive maize and netting three crops per year. But whether maize...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 23–27 September 2024 The Russian grain market was bullish in European Russia but bearish in the Asian part and Siberia because Kazakhstan introduced a temporary ban on imports of Russian wheat. Grain storage facilities are being filled up to the brim with new crop c...
Market Commentary: Grain Stocks Fuel 2-Day Corn Rally; Wheat Rises with Russian Prices
CBOT grains and oilseeds seem to be playing “follow the leader” and have recently switched roles. Previously, soybeans were rallying and pulling grain futures grudgingly higher, but that has completely flipped following Monday’s Grain Stocks report. Now, corn and wheat are ris...
Trade Policy Spin; Interstate Trade Barriers
Trade Policy Spin It is an election year, and the Biden Administration is claiming to have opened up $26.7 billion in overseas market access for American farmers. But that carries the same weight with farmers as grocery buyers hearing that food inflation has declined. They are still paying more...
East and Gulf Port Workers on Strike
A port worker strike in the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Ports started today affecting container shipments, while a strike in Vancouver, Canada affecting grain shipments came to an end on Saturday with the final ratification vote to come this Friday, 4 October. As WPI’s Matt Herrington...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s wheat imports in 2024/25 could drop to almost nothing as a result of the very good harvest in 2024 – up by 3.2 MMT. Wheat production was well above the average at a record level of 31,400 MM...
Market Commentary: Grain Stocks Bullish Corn but Neutral Soy, Wheat; Port Strike Looms
Monday’s CBOT trade was essentially dedicated to the Grain Stocks report with pre-report trading seeing muted action and steady volumes while post-report trade saw a meaningful rally in corn and a pullback in soybeans. The report issued a surprisingly small corn stocks figure, which spurr...
Hurricane Helene Impacts in the Southeast
After making landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Hurricane Helene struck northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. All commodities in the region have been affected, including pecan orchards and timber land, but also corn, soybeans, cotton and poultry. Given the location, hog pro...
Green for You, Grey for Me; Slaying National Champions
Green for You, Grey for Me Some say the EU has been vague about whether it will seek a delay in the December 30 implementation deadline for implementing the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Brussels told WTO members last week that delay would require a legislative change, which is not imposs...
Russia’s Grain Shortfall
Today’s USDA quarterly Grain Stocks report provided the market with a bullish input but there may be another shoe to drop. Russia’s stocks to use ratio for corn and wheat have been dropping for four straight years. Over that timeframe, it is down 64 percent for corn and 48 percent f...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina’s Weather The weather remains a recurring issue in Argentina. The lack of rainfall across much of the country's agricultural region is starting to impact both the wheat crop, currently in its yield-defining stages, and the sowing of summer crops. Precipitation anomaly maps...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Four regions in Russia’s Siberia have declared states of emergency due to heavy rains and flooding. Milling Wheat Wheat markets were higher last week with U.S. futures rising about $5/MT while the Paris market added €1.25/MT for the week. Markets remain conc...
Grain Stocks Report Charts
The attached PDF offers graphical depiction and analysis of the latest USDA Grain Stocks data for key commodities. The data is, of course, taken from the quarterly Grain Stocks report. WPI recently completed an expansion of the analysis and welcomes any feedback/suggestions. ...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Funds activity in the ag futures markets was more subtle than expected for the second straight week. Specifically, fund short-covering in the corn and wheat markets lagged expectations by a wide margin. In corn futures, funds bought back 3,700 contracts (2.6 percent) of their prior short, which...
Market Commentary: Pre-Report Plus Brazil Lightens Risk
Volume was light except in soymeal, Feeders and lean hogs. USDA’s final quarterly stocks report for MY 2023/24 arrives Monday and it has surprised to the bullish side for the past four out of five years. So the goal was to get out of short positions. On the week, soymeal exploded on...
Policy Quick Hits
Government Funding President Biden yesterday signed a continuing resolution passed by Congress to fund the government at current levels until 20 December. There were no riders – such as an extension of the farm bill – included. This sets up another deadline before the Christmas holi...
Cow-Calf Margins Down from July but Still Imply Herd Rebuilding
Since WPI’s July update on cow-calf margins, expected 2024 returns for producers have shifted lower but remain well above year-ago values and near record highs. WPI’s models indicate that revenue for the “average” Southern Plains (i.e., Kansas) cow-calf operation will hi...
Nudge versus Cudgel; New Japanese PM; Pesticide Restrictions
Nudge versus Cudgel The Biden Administration has achieved some market openings in various countries, the most recent being obtaining agreement from Chile to accept American cheese products marked with European origin names like gouda, cheddar, and provolone. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug M...
Market Commentary: Crude Oil Selloff Sinks Soyoil, Soybeans; Corn, Wheat Lower Ahead of Stocks Report
A surprise selloff in crude oil put heavy selling pressure on the CBOT soy complex on Thursday, with soyoil and soybeans scoring bearish reversals for the day. The weakness in the soy complex sent corn and wheat into the red as well, with traders unwilling to take more long risks heading into t...
Oilseed Highlights: Weakness Today But Still Plenty of Support
The Market The soy complex has had a bullish week thus far, moving higher on a weather premium added for Brazil, and news that China, the largest importer of soybeans, will significantly boost economic stimulus. Short-covering had been rampant until today’s selloff. News that Saudi Arabia...
Livestock Roundup: Hogs and Pigs Report Mostly Neutral
Today, USDA released its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report for the June through August quarter. The total inventory of hogs and pigs on 1 Spetmeber was 76.48 milllion head, which was up from 76.133 million head in 2023. Typically, inventories grow from 1 June and peak for the ye...
Market Commentary: Soyoil and Beans Lead Sector Higher
The CBOT was higher once again with soybeans and the oilseed complex leading the way. Drought in Brazil and the surging soyoil prices have supported the complex and driven a widespread wave of short-covering by funds. Corn and wheat futures followed the oilseed markets higher at midweek but fai...
Industry Consolidation
U.S. antitrust law is complicated, but current efforts to block a merger between grocery retailers Albertsons and Kroger may not fit the bill. Current triggers under the law include: Market share of 70 percent or more, or less than 50 percent if barriers limit competition. Barriers to entry pr...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 16–20 September 2024 Russian grain markets remained stagnant as export demand is weak and domestic demand is even weaker. Moreover, appreciation of grains earlier in the month reached its peak at this stage of the game and buyers are very careful right now. Sellers...
Market Commentary: Soybeans, Soyoil Extend Rallies; Wheat, Corn Fall as Short-Covering Fades
The CBOT saw diverging trading patterns on Tuesday with soybeans and soyoil continuing their rallies and extending gains to new highs. China is rumored to be purchasing up to 1.2 MMT (44 Mbu or 20 cargoes) of U.S. soybeans for October-November delivery, which put a bid under the market. Too, th...
Hogs and Pigs Report Preview
On Thursday, USDA will release its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report for the June through August quarter showing the inventory as of 1 September. Pre-report expectations peg the total inventory at 100.5 percent of last year. That would imply 75.7 million head, the largest inventory for the quarter...
Tariff Spiral and WTO Failure; Nuclear Power and GMO’s
Tariff Spiral and WTO Failure Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump now says he will impose 200 percent tariffs on farm machinery from John Deere should the company move its manufacturing to Mexico. He said he would also provide incentives for foreign companies to move their operations t...
Energy and Agriculture
Global agriculture produces energy, with 23 percent of ethanol produced from sugarcane, and another 7 percent produced from the molasses byproduct of processing sugarcane or sugarbeets. Increased production of ethanol has caused global sugar carryover to decline. Agriculture is also a major con...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Bangladesh reports that it will be importing 400,000 MT of wheat immediately with the normal buying approval being shortened from 42 days to 15 days. The change is being made in order to maintain food security. Th...
Market Commentary: CBOT Rallies on Weather, Short Covering; Monetary Policy Turns Bullish Commodities
The CBOT jumped sharply higher to start the new week with wheat leading the move with overnight strength. Fund short covering drove much of the day’s gains, but dryness in Brazil and the Black Sea, along with some rain-induced U.S. harvest delays, offered some fundamental motivation...
Hypocritical on Process Standards; Buy America Bust; Politics of the Port Strike
Hypocritical on Process Standards EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will make a decision this week on implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. It is set to take effect at the start of 2025 but both internal and external forces want the measure delayed and modified. That inc...
Pending Port Strikes: U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and Vancouver Canada
With a pending 1 October strike deadline on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts by the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), the U.S. Department of Labor has reached out to the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), a group that represents employers of the East and Gulf Coasts longshore indus...
Running Out of Protein
Europe ran out of energy when the Russian attack on Ukraine forced it to reduce imports from Russia. Europe lacks the ability to defend itself despite Russia’s threat on its eastern border. Now Europe is reducing its consumption of meat but failing to invest in meat alternatives that coul...
European Market Analysis
Regional News WPI sources in Brussels say it’s increasingly likely that the EU Deforestation Regulations will be delayed until the region can develop better implementing systems. Recall that EUDR – which would force massive reporting and traceability requirements on seven comm...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Economic/Policy Update Argentine President Javier Milei, in a public speech this week, presented the 2025 budget that will be sent to Congress for approval. Farmers had high expectations for potential announcements that might improve their business or provide visibility concerni...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Funds activity in the ag futures markets was more subdued last week than expected. Funds were slight net buyers in soybeans, soymeal, corn, and across the wheat complex, but the percentage shifts in their positions and overall buying volumes underperformed expectations. In the soy complex...
Market Commentary: Wheat Retraces; Soyoil Surges
Wheat was the big gainer last week but this week it gave up most of those gains. And soyoil was last week’s biggest loser but it rose to the top this week. Lean hogs also staged a major reversal after losing 1.32 percent last week and then rising 4.1 percent this week. Where there...
Too Bad for Ag, Tariff Impacts; Climate and Agriculture
Too Bad for Ag In a surprise from the Biden Administration, Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh said that the U.S. should negotiate more sectoral specific trade agreements and outlined new incentives under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to entice more buy-in from other countries...
Neutral Cattle on Feed Report
USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today. All categories came in near expectations, making the report neutral. August placements at 1.98 million head were above the average for the month during this cattle cycle of 1.93 million head, but still below last year. As WPI noted yesterd...
Weaker Consumer Finances Darken Economic Outlook, Despite Interest Rate Cuts
The past two weeks have seen the typical influx of macroeconomic data releases, most of which helped prompt the Federal Reserve to issue its 50-bps interest rate cut on Wednesday. While the interest rate cut was initially viewed as a positive signal (lower interest rates generally increase econ...
Market Commentary: Wheat Falls Amid Weak Russian Prices; Soyoil Rises on Exports; Macro Markets Boost Cattle
Markets and traders were broadly enthusiastic following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 50-bps cut to its target interest rate on Wednesday, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at the grain or oilseed markets. Wheat futures were sharply lower on Thursday amid pressure from French whe...
Oilseed Highlights: Bouncing Off Seasonal Lows
The Market U.S. soybeans have a nearly $1/bushel advantage as Brazilian basis moves higher. The result is that last week’s export sales were substantial. Rumors are rampant of more Chinese purchasing of U.S. soybeans. Argentina reportedly bought U.S. soybeans but those may washout on fina...
How Not to Resuscitate; Micromanagement
How Not to Resuscitate The European Parliament rejected the Commission’s proposal to allow tolerance levels for pesticide residues on some imported foods. Allowing a rat pack of politicians to directly decide scientific issues only contributes to domestic decline. Pesticides can be produc...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview
USDA will release its Cattle on Feed report tomorrow; the pre-report consensus analysts’ estimate is for the inventory of cattle on feed as of 1 September to be 101 percent of last year. August placements and marketing are expected to be 98.5 and 96.5 percent respectively of last year&rsq...
Market Commentary: Soy Complex Rises on China Rumors, Brazil Drought; Hogs Extend Rally
Soybeans saw the liveliest action of the major grain/oilseed contracts on Wednesday with a strong, 18-cent overnight rally developing on rumors of Chinese export business. That rally fizzled, however, after the USDA did not report any daily “flash” export sales at 9 AM ET and the ma...
High Cost of Food; Sick Man in Europe
High Cost of Food Gallop’s annual Work and Education survey found that Americans have soured on the restaurant and grocery business. They still love farmers but have followed Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in faulting the food industry for inflation. Over the past year, fav...
More Food, and Fewer Children
Few philanthropists are as focused on hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa than Bill Gates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent billions of dollars on the problem. Activists do not like his promotion of GMO’s as a solution, but they are not as focused as he is on human suffering...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 9–13 September 2024 Russian grain markets remained stable with only corn slightly bullish, possibly showing the first real signs of a lower crop this season. Farmers are playing a waiting game switching to sunflower seed trade which is showing bullish sentiments and...
Market Commentary: Grains Drift Sideways as Harvest Looms; Livestock Rally on Strong Cash Trade
The CBOT was mostly sideways on Tuesday with funds still paring back a few shorts in the corn and soy complex while resuming some light selling in wheat futures. There was little fresh news for the day, which contributed significantly to the lack of price action. Russian FOB offers continue to...
Three Wheat Peculiarity
The December SRW and HRW contracts closed lower today, while December HRS added value. These three wheat contracts often move in unison, but not always. And they have many other differences that define them. HRS is typically priced higher due to its greater protein content and thus demand, espe...
New EU Commission; America First Channels Sovereignty
New EU Commission European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made known her nominees to run the government in Brussels and the trade and agriculture portfolios have interesting selections. As was speculated previously, Christophe Hansen from Luxembourg has been picked for the agricultur...
Ad Hoc Farm Bill in the Works?
The current underlying farm bill (extended for a year last year) expires in 13 days. Another extension is likely, but there is also some movement on Capitol Hill to provide some ad hoc assistance with a potential extension. The 2024 federal fiscal year expires in 13 days. Without funding,...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s GASC is reported to have arranged a private purchase of 430,000 MT of Russian wheat at a price of $231 CIF. GASC has not confirmed this purchase. Egypt’s wheat imports, on a dollar basis,...
Market Commentary: Bears Win as CBOT Emerges from Post-WASDE Weekend
The CBOT emerged from the post-WASDE weekend with bears gaining the upper hand in a relatively light news day. Wheat was the big loser for the day as profit taking developed when futures neared the $6.00 mark that kicked values sharply lower. Corn and soybeans were in the red for the day as wel...
Future of EU Agriculture; Future of U.S. Agriculture
Future of EU Agriculture Mercosur: Newly appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier reiterated French opposition to a trade agreement with Mercosur at the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil, saying he is seeking coalition partners for a blocking minority. Meanwhile, Mercosur leaders receive...
SUSTAINS Act Under the Radar
Today is the final day to submit comments to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under a request for information (RFI) on the Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to Incentivize Natural Solutions (SUSTAINS) Act. That legislation was passed as a rider on the 2023 a...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat The Rosario Grain Exchange reports that wheat fields in the central, northern, and western parts of the planted area are suffering from a lack of water, raising doubts about its current production estimate of 20.5 MMT- a figure considered high by many in the market. In September, th...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Last Thursday, a Ukrainian merchant vessel carrying grain and bound for Egypt was struck by a Russian missile in the Black Sea waters near Romania. The event is escalating the geopolitical tensions between the two countries and threatens Ukraine’s ability to protect ci...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Funds continued covering shorts across the grain and oilseed complex through last Tuesday as futures trended firmer heading into the September WASDE. The most notable short covering was in wheat where funds bought back 30 percent of the CBOT position and 33 percent of their HRW short. The buyin...
Market Commentary: It Was Wheat’s Week
Russia’s Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine using Western long-range missiles to attack inside his country would bring NATO into the war. That and his threats to use nuclear weapons and the attack this week on a grain carrying ship in the Black Sea pressured the gold market and likely whe...
Hurricane Francine Energy Production Disruptions
The WTI Crude oil futures saw its third consecutive day of gains from the impacts of Hurricane Francine in the Gulf of Mexico and the contract remains up on the week. Francine made landfall on Wednesday on the Louisiana coast and has now been downgraded to a tropical storm. It is tr...
WPI’s Post-WASDE Quarterly Corn, Soy Outlook
Now that the WASDE has come and gone, it’s time for the commodity market analyst community to argue about why USDA’s projections are wrong and what the world will actually look like over the next marketing year. WPI is loath to miss this monthly festival of forecasting, so we offer...
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...
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...
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...
Market Commentary: USDA Confirms Record Corn, Soy Yields but Ending Stocks Fall
For a WASDE report that confirmed record-large corn and soybean yields, futures’ reaction to the data was relatively muted. Those hoping for a festival of bearish numbers were disappointing as USDA moderated the impacts of larger yields with reductions in 2023/24 carryout and modest &ndas...
Farm Bill Force; Black Sea Risks; Food Price Competition
Farm Bill Force A coalition of 300 agricultural groups sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging passage of a new farm bill. Some on Capitol Hill see it as unachievable and sought to add a one-year extension of current law onto a continuing resolution. Instead, there will be one more push d...
Livestock Roundup: WASDE Trims Cattle Price Outlook
The big news on the livestock side of today’s WASDE was USDA’s reduction in the fed cattle price forecast. Prices for 2024 were trimmed by $3/cwt and USDA dropped its forecast for 2025 annual average prices by $5/cwt from $191/cwt last month to $186 this month. The supply and deman...
Oilseed Highlights: WASDE Affirms a Sideways Market
The Market Today’s USDA WASDE report should drive discussion, but it was mostly neutral. The 20-day moving average has begun to rise and November soybeans hit 1031 less than a week ago, lending hope for bulls that it can break 1050/bushel resistance. But the stocks-to-use ratio remains at...
Market Commentary: Calm Before the WASDE Storm; Drought Concerns Support Wheat, Soybeans
The CBOT was mostly higher on Wednesday as traders continued adjusting positions and preparing for the upcoming September WASDE report. Wheat was the upside leader – though trading volume was suspiciously low – as concerns intensify about drought in the U.S. Plains, the Black Sea, a...
Agricultural Trade with Africa
Africa’s population is on a trajectory that could double its size by 2050 to 2.5 billion, or a quarter of the global populace. The West (U.S., EU, Japan) are in a competition with the Axis (China, Russia) for influence over Africa. One way to influence is to actively trade, including in a...
Tariffs are Popular
Tariffs were a hot topic in last night’s debate between the two U.S. presidential candidates. Trump first imposed tariffs, which Harris calls a sales tax, but her Administration keep most of them and she has not ruled out using them again. Trump added to his pro-tariff position by saying...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 2–6 September 2024 The Russian grain market is finally showing bullish sentiments. Adverse weather in Russia this season concerns many analysts, and they are one after another decreasing their forecasts for overall grain production. Exact numbers are hard to figure...
Remembering 9-11
Twenty-three years ago, on September 11, 2001, the U.S. experienced one of the most tragic and influential days in the nation’s history. The events of that day would spark great unity, and later division, as our nation grappled with terrorism’s fallout. The days and weeks immediatel...
Market Commentary: Wheat Rises on Plains Dryness; Corn, Soybeans Sink in Pre-WASDE Trade
Trading at the CBOT was mixed on Tuesday with expectations for the WASDE differing significantly. For corn and soybeans, traders and analysts are all in on the bearish side of things while there is some growing positivity for the wheat markets. That was reflected in Tuesday’s trade with s...
Farm Bill and Prop 12
Yesterday, WPI reported that several commodity organizations were in Washington to lobby on the farm bill. One of those groups was the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). One of the solutions they’re seeking is preemption of California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Q...
DEI and Trade; Barriers Against Real Emitters
DEI and Trade Today was Day 1 of the annual WTO Public Forum. The sessions were started many years ago as the institution's response to critics. Each year nongovernmental organizations with a dislike of international trade show up in Geneva to share their angst and demands for change. The agend...
Meat Trade Holds Up
Hitting the downside of the cattle cycle and having a higher value product based on a strong U.S. dollar has certainly reduced, but the trade has held up relatively well over the past year. U.S. beef imports have trended higher, with an especially large boost from Brazil back in January. But No...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s trade deficit in June dropped by 5.1 percent to $2.87 billion – in dollar terms wheat imports were down by 21.5 percent while corn imports saw a reduction of 28.6 percent. Total for all imports...
Market Commentary: CBOT Prepares for September WASDE
The CBOT started the week with a mood that was decidedly oriented towards preparing for the September WASDE report. Volume and price action were relatively limited for the day and cattle futures were the surprise bullish leaders. In the grains, corn and soybeans pushed higher with the latter ma...
Draghi versus Strategic Dialogue; Cooking the CVD Books
Draghi versus Strategic Dialogue Mario Draghi issued his long-awaited report on European competitiveness that had been requested by the European Commission. Its content stands in both contrast and conflict with U.S. goals and the Strategic Dialogue just completed on future support for European...
Producer Groups Getting Restless on Farm Bill
The current farm bill – the extended Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – expires in 10 days. With no practical window to pass a bill in 2024, it will need to be extended again. From a practical perspective, that needs to be done before 2025 when dairy programs enter a new marketin...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Weather Recent rains have benefited parts of Argentina, but not all areas received significant precipitation. The highest accumulations occurred in the central-east and southern regions of Buenos Aires Province, with 30–50 mm recorded. However, the provinces of Córdoba, Santa...
European Market Analysis
Regional News The EU is set to receive beneficial rains across its central region this week with some of that precipitation extending out into parts of western and eastern Europe. That will offer some relief from the drought for central Europe, but the north-central and eastern regions wi...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Friday’s CFTC report featured the expected trends in managed money funds’ activity, but the volume of trade and the degree of change in their position was below expectations. Funds covered about 21,000 contracts of their soybean futures short last week (12.5 percent of the prior wee...
Market Commentary: Mixed Signals
There were lots of mixed pressures on the market today, and this week overall. Outside markets were key among them. Trading volume was modest today, except for meal, oil, and livestock. On the week, livestock and soyoil took losses, while fund long positions held up for soymeal. While so...
Jobs Report and How the Fed Will See It
Today’s jobs report was highly anticipated as a key benchmark before the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting later this month and expected to be a factor in the Fed’s decision of whether to cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points or 50 basis points. As it happens, tod...
India’s Ethanol Conundrum and Impact on Global Markets
India is attempting to pursue its climate goals through the expansion of biofuel blending into transportation fuels, but the dynamics of the country’s agricultural systems and protectionist trade policies may stymie these efforts. The USDA recently issued an outlook that calls for India t...
Market Commentary: CBOT Dips as Short Covering Subsides; Livestock Fall on Macro Worries
The CBOT was mostly lower on Thursday as traders took a day to pause and reassess positions and the grain market outlook with just one day of trade left before the weekend. Too, the September WASDE is looming next week and traders are positioning and adjusting expectations in advance of that re...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle and Beef Imports
High cattle and beef prices are supporting imports. First, cattle imports through July are up 22.6 percent compared to last year. Imports from Canada are up 18.1 percent and imports from Mexico have increased 25.2 percent over the same period. This trend of increased imports certai...
Oilseed Highlights: The Rally Has Capped Out
The Market In this holiday shortened trading week, November soybeans are up 23.5 cents (2.35 percent). The rally in prices has caused deliveries to increase against December futures. Futures have been rising but basis levels are weak, raising doubts about real demand. December soymeal is...
Competitor Opportunities (Future of EU Agriculture Part II)
Yesterday, we took an initial and cursory look at the outcome of the EU’s Strategic Dialogue on farm support. Basically, it says move away from area payments and focus resources on small farmers not large operations. Today, we look at it in more detail, the current spin on its outcome ver...
Market Commentary: CBOT Extends Broad-based September Rally
The CBOT was higher once again with wheat, corn, soybeans, and soymeal all scoring new rally highs and bullish technical victories. In wheat in particular, fund managers are working hard to cover shorts as the technical outlook rapidly shifts bullish, which has driven much of this week’s...
Competitiveness versus Social Goals; Food to Energy
Competitiveness versus Social Goals The EU completed a strategic dialogue on the future of the Continent’s agriculture and despite the June elections whittling down the power of the Greens, they have won the debate on farm subsidies. The farmers protesting ahead of this year’s elect...
Pulses Not Pulsing
The International Grains Council (IGC), Rabobank, and others have followed countries and companies moving into the pulses space. It is logical that plant-based proteins like pulses should be an attractive market. However, the compound average growth rate (CAGR) for the larger category is only 2...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 26–30 August 2024 Russian grain markets remained relatively stable; however, they are under pressure of a large crop and growing stocks. Even though the 2024 grain crop may be slightly lower than earlier estimates, Russia will have a solid export surplus. Dome...
Market Commentary: CBOT Rallies Sharply on Bullish Technicals; China-Canada Trade War Looms
The CBOT was nearly uniformly higher following the U.S. Labor Day holiday with wheat, corn, and soybeans all scoring strong gains and meaningful bullish technical developments. There wasn’t a major fundamental catalyst for any of the markets, rather the day’s trade seemed to build u...
New Guidelines for Substantiating Meat and Poultry Label Claims
Last week, USDA released an updated guideline for label claims on meat products as they pertain to how livestock is raised. Specifics included are claims related to animal welfare, breed, diet (e.g., grass fed), living conditions or raising practices, negative antibiotic use claims, negative ho...
Business Economics on Ballot; Tariff Doublespeak
Business Economics on Ballot The American economy largely relies on large corporations for generating growth and wealth. That engine is under attack on numerous counts by politicians looking to stoke voter support by creating a scapegoat. Democrats have pledged to raise the corporate tax rate f...
Sugar Price Response
The March 2025 No. 11 sugar contract rebounded last week but it is still down over 20 percent from its high. Analysts started the year expecting sugar prices to rise this year on short supplies. The International Sugar Organization is still warning of a net deficit once global consumption is su...
Market Commentary: Black Sea Instability and Trade War Influences
There were some jitters this week as Russia and Ukraine stepped up assaults ahead of what may become talks to end the conflict. Alongside concerns about a kinetic war is the uncertainty around the incoming Trump Administration’s aggressions in trade policy.It should be noted that geopolitical u...
Cattle on Feed Report
USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today. Once again, placements surprised to the upside compared to pre-report analysts’ consensus expectations. The total cattle on feed inventory was 11.986 million head, which was slightly above last year’s 11.956 million head. Total feedlot inve...
WPI Quarterly Grain Balance Sheet Forecasts
The latest updates and model runs from WPI’s grain balance sheet and pricing forecasts show that corn and wheat are likely to see stronger-than-expected demand that should create upside potential for cash and futures markets. Conversely, soybeans are expected to see weaker demand (particularly...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 November)
Ocean Freight Comments - 22 November 2024By Matt HerringtonThe major story behind dry bulk freight markets remains the same: slack demand causing additional weakness in rates. The downturn in rates is accelerating as markets head into the holiday season, which is usually a lull period for freig...
Market Commentary: New Lows for Soybeans; Corn, Wheat Fall on Export Data
The CBOT was mostly lower for the day with corn, wheat, and the entire soy complex finding their way into the red for various reasons. Wheat initially rallied on rising tensions and attacks between Rusia and Ukraine, with Ukraine accusing Russia of launching an intercontinental ballistic missil...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview
The monthly Cattle on Feed report will be released tomorrow. Analysts’ pre-report consensus estimates are for the total inventory on feed to be 100 percent of last year’s 11.9 million head, at a range of estimates between 99.5 percent and 101.3 percent of 1 November 2023. This would be 11.6 mil...
Oilseed Highlights: Continued Pressure from South America and Policy Uncertainties
The MarketDespite a decent USDA Export Sales report, the market continues to be weighed down by the large developing South American soybean crop. Soybean prices rose in the overnight market on short-covering but they resumed their decline on Thursday, falling below trendline support. March soyb...
Market Commentary: Soy Complex Falls on Brazilian Weather; Wheat Rises on Ukraine News
The Thanksgiving holiday isn’t until next week, but the CBOT is starting to feel like traders are taking their vacation time a little early. Trading volumes were muted on Wednesday and other than the KC wheat market and soyoil futures, none of the major ag markets made major technical moves. Ma...
Turkey is a Turkey
And we don’t mean Türkiye. Turkey can mean unsuccessful and the production and trade in the domesticated large bird called the turkey leaves much to be desired. It originated in North America and that is where it has mostly stayed. The U.S. produces about half the world’s turkey meat. U.S. and...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 11 – 15 November 2024Russian Union of Grain producers and exporters announced that winter wheat area for 2025/26 may drop to 15.4 Mha which will be the smallest planted winter crops area since 2018/19. Particularly, wheat area may drop by 0.9 Mha to 16.3 Mha, and after wi...
Market Commentary: Price Action Follows One of Two Factors
The CBOT saw distinctly mixed trade with price action being largely determined by one of two factors: either bullishness from Ukraine’s attack on interior Russia or bearishness from favorable weather in South America. Based solely upon that statement, you can probably figure out which markets d...
China-Brazil Bilateral at the G20 Summit: New Deals to Be Announced
The G20 meets in Rio de Janeiro this week, and Presidents Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva of Brazil and Xi Jinping of China have a bilateral side meeting on their respective calendars. The agenda is focused on promoting development strategies between China and Brazil.Brazil’s Ag Minister Carlos Fav...
Farm Bill Deficiencies; Transatlantic Tensions; GMO Correction
Farm Bill DeficienciesU.S. Senate Democrats have finally laid down their marker in a bicameral negotiation over a farm bill renewal. In it, Democrats conceded to a House Republican initiative to double spending on export promotion programs. However, they did not accept the Republican position t...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGIONEgypt’s strategic wheat reserves are at 4.6 months. This is a little lower than usual due to delays in wheat shipments from Russia.Iraq advises that is has sent 50 truckloads of aid to Syria, mainly wheat. The aid will be used to support...
Livestock Industry Margins
Livestock margins continue to be characterized by weakness in the packing sector and strength in producer profitability. Last week, both beef and pork packer margins fell due to weakness in meat prices and beef margins scored their third straight weekly loss and pork margins their second. The d...
WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 18 November)
Update for 1 April 2024: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...
Agriculture Committees in the 119th Congress
With the Republicans maintaining control of the House, Representative G.T. Thompson (R-PA) will retain the gavel as committee chairman, unless he is nominated for Secretary of Agriculture by President-elect Trump. Thompson’s name has been mentioned more frequently as of late as a potential nomi...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat The wheat harvest in Argentina is progressing at a steady pace. Last week, the harvested area share increased by 5 percentage points, bringing the total to 17 percent of the sown area. The harvest begins in the north and gradually moves southward. In the northwest, the harvest is nea...
Market Commentary: CBOT Rallies on Ukraine War Developments, Fund Buying
The CBOT was mostly higher to start the week with markets reacting to Friday’s CFTC data as well as news that will impact the Ukraine-Russia war. First, the CFTC data showed managed money traders engaged in a surprise, massive buying spree in corn last week, a move that sparked support in futur...
RFK, Jr. Equals Opportunity; Quarter Century of GMO’s
RFK, Jr. Equals OpportunityRobert F. Kennedy, Jr. wants to eliminate processed foods, artificial colorings, chemicals, and other broadly named boogeymen. He and his ilk are social media trolls that disparage the regulated and regulators alike, fabricating conspiracy theories about Big Food want...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Last week, the European Parliament voted on the EUDR regulation and officially delayed the full implementation of the ruling until December 2025.After a soggy start to autumn for most of continental Europe, particularly the western regions, the recent weather and two-week for...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
The major finding of Friday’s CFTC report is that funds are increasingly and somewhat aggressively bullish corn as they rapidly expanded a small long into a near-100,000 contract bullish position. Over the period 5 through 12 November, funds bought over 96,000 contracts, which is the 11th large...
Market Commentary: Today was Green but Headwinds for the Week
Corn, soymeal, live cattle and lean hogs all traded lower during the morning start but by the end of the day, only lean hogs ended lower. There were modest volumes being traded on Friday for most contracts, except feeder cattle where it was nearly double the five-day average.December soymeal hi...
Cow-Calf Margins Steady in November, Herd Expansion Still Likely
Despite recent decreases in feeder cattle futures and rising feedstuff costs, estimated cow-calf producer margins are largely unchanged from WPI’s October estimate. The stable and positive financial environment means that producers are still facing strong financial incentives to expand the U.S...
McSustainability Through Feed Efficiency
McDonalds has entered the sustainability space by partnering with Syngenta and paying cattle producers to use Syngenta’s Enogen Trait corn to improve feed efficiency. Enogen corn contains an enzyme, alpha amylase. This enzyme has been added during the ethanol production process to induce starch...
Livestock Roundup: Turkey Production Adjusted Down
Turkey production in August totaled 434.7 million pounds, slightly above July production but down 11 percent year-over-year. August slaughter was down 15 percent year-over-year, but heavier weights in August (32.25 pounds) offset the reduced slaughter. Based on the August production data, estim...
Market Commentary: Biofuel and Trade Policy Worries Pressure CBOT along with Dollar Strength
The CBOT saw another day of pronounced weakness with expectations for larger global soybean and wheat production and stocks in 2025 weighing on values. Product demand in the soy complex has also been a huge negative factor recently with uncertainty over U.S. biofuels policy causing a sharp redu...
Oilseed Highlights: Multi-Bearish Factors
The MarketThe January soybean contract has been sliding all week and despite support at the 20-day moving average of $10.01/ST, it closed today below $10/bushel for the first time this month. The reasons are many including: a rising dollar value, 2) large impending South American production, 3)...
Market Commentary: Bearish Beat Goes On
The CBOT was essentially all red on Wednesday with traders finding little support from either the fundamental or technical components of commodity price analysis. Wheat was the downside leader for the day as a strong dollar, improving conditions in the Plains, and increasingly tepid exports fro...
EU Studies Trading Houses
As part of its witch hunt for unfair market practices, the EU Parliament’s AGRI Committee requested a study of the major agricultural commodity trading companies and their impacts. The study may inform populists in the U.S. that also see consolidated industries as inherently harmful, but...
USA Gone Nuts
While oilseeds receive much of the attention, tree nuts, which are technically a seed and containing oil, have gone even more gangbusters for U.S. producers in recent years. Almonds have received much of the focus as the U.S. produces nearly 80 percent of the crop and a comparable share of the...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 4 – 8 November 2024We have heard the voices from various sources forecasting a new grain crop in Russia and most of them differ in numbers. We will have to deal with terminology like bunker weight (straight from the combine) and standard weight (cleaned and dried accepted...
Market Commentary: Funds Resume Soy Complex Selling; Wheat Falls on Improved Weather
The CBOT was almost uniformly in the red on Tuesday with any bullish supply-side implications from the November WASDE largely forgotten (or ignored) amid bearish demand-side developments. The recent rally in the U.S. dollar is threatening to undo much of the export demand gains the market has w...
Cuban Pipedream
Some in the U.S. agriculture community have spent years trying to improve sales to Cuba, which have increased though from a very small base. Now there is even less reason to think they’ll succeed. Their pipedream has been a hungry population of around 11 million people just 60 miles off the Ame...
Trump’s Tariff Plan; Whither Europe; RTO Beats WFH
Trump’s Tariff PlanFew things attract more speculation than how President-Elect Donald Trump will model his plan to increase tariffs on imports. Some economists have taken his most exaggerated claims and predict they will cause slower economic growth and higher inflation. At least one advisor s...
Political Landscape Taking Shape
After the 2024 elections, the Republicans look to have taken control of Congress, along with a Trump victory, providing a Republican triple sweep. The Senate GOP majority is 53 to 47; and the House GOP majority is still TBD. However, as of today, the Republicans have secured 215 seats, and Demo...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional UpdatesMEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGIONPakistan has decided to allow the importation of GMO soybeans from the U.S. – critics say that this decision was made without proper risk assessment and was only done due to pressure from large industrial companies. Forty...
Livestock Industry Margins
WPI is excited to present the latest edition of our newest data-driven publication Ag Perspectives Quant: U.S. Livestock Industry Profit Margins. This report offers a comprehensive look at the profitability of the U.S. beef and pork sectors, from cow-calf and farrow-to-finish producers up the v...
Market Commentary: CBOT Slips as Demand Worries Overtake Supply-Side Surprises
The November WASDE offered mixed influences for the major ag markets with USDA making surprise cuts to the U.S. corn and soybean crops and ending stocks, which rallied markets on Friday. The report also, however, cast doubts on the demand-side outlook for both crops and wheat, and that is what...
Deep Bench to Fight RFK; China Market Risk; Thankless Job
Deep Bench to Fight RFKBeing the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is usually a pretty good job. It involves doling out billions of dollars, the constituency is dominated by courteous country people, and controversies tend to be minor. The person serving the longest in any Cabinet position was Jame...
Rice as a Stable Crop
Last year, India restricted non-Basmati rice exports believing there would be a weather-related short supply. Production was ample and now the country faces record high inventories that will likely be dumped on the world market. The OECD calculates that Indian farmers are implicitly taxed $120...
Senate Committee Changes and Ethanol Legislation
As WPI noted a week ago on 4 November, As a general rule, a Republican agenda is likely to be friendlier to liquid fuels, especially petroleum fuels, whereas a Democrat agenda is more likely to include a role for electric vehicles, and a renewable fuels policy that will focus on reducing c...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat As of the end of the first week of November, 12 percent of Argentina’s sown wheat area has already been harvested. Harvesting is progressing quickly in the country’s north, with yields that are low but within expectations. Although a few more weeks will pass before the harvest is wid...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
The major finding of Friday’s CFTC report was the confirmation that funds have officially flipped their formerly massive net short in corn to a net long. After buying back nearly 40,000 contracts last week, funds now sit long 3,035 contracts as of 5 November, a position which was extended signi...
Market Commentary: Somewhat Tumultuous WASDE
The November WASDE report usually involves some tweaking of the numbers by USDA, and that is all it mostly was today, but with some quirky impacts. First, there were a few surprises but not dramatic ones and yet the report spurred larger to outsized volume in trading across the grain and oilsee...
Who Might Be the Next Ag Secretary?
As most Presidents-elect do, former President and President-elect Donald Trump has named his new White House Chief of Staff as his first appointment. It is Susi S. Wiles. Wiles was the co-manager of Trump’s 2024 campaign, and also was a key strategist focused on Florida in his 2016 and 2020 cam...
WPI 2025 Hog and Pork Outlook
U.S. hog producers saw a mixed year in 2024 with early-year prices bringing poor profitability while the dramatic hog rally since the summer has lifted financial fortunes significantly. A major component of those rising prices was the unexpected surge in pork demand, which pushed the cutout to...
Market Commentary: Soybeans, Soyoil Rally on Export Numbers; Cattle Gain on Macro Strength
The CBOT was mixed on Thursday following the news of Donald Trump’s election to President of the United States with markets, particularly corn and cattle futures, seeing continued support from “risk on” trade. It’s not necessarily that traders and investors are particularly excited about Trump’...
Transatlantic Trade War; Traders Beat Pollsters; Transatlantic Lesson
Transatlantic Trade WarU.S. equity markets rose yesterday on news of Donald Trump’s victory, while shares in Europe fell. The EU is America’s biggest trading partner and Trump promises tariffs. EU officials are strategizing on how to deal with a Trump presidency, with some urging cooperation, a...
Livestock Roundup: Beef Overview
Little to no action has been reported in the cash markets and asking prices are back at $190/cwt and higher. Cattle supply numbers are tighter in the south than in the north, and carcass weights took a pause from the steep rise that has taken them to all-time highs this year. The latest report...
Oilseed Highlights: On an Upswing
The MarketThe January soybean contract is up 3.2 percent on the week and has is now up 3.5 percent from its late October low at 979/bushel, but it is still 5 percent below its late August high at 1083/bushel.11072024oilseeds_beans.png 1.16 MBUntil today’s turnaround following very large export...
Market Commentary: Mild Election Impacts
Outside markets closed higher and the dollar was up, but not because of bullishness over Mr. Trump’s victory. The business sector likes his pledge for lower taxes and less regulation but is less enthralled with his attraction to tariffs. In fact, the tariffs are expected to be inflationary, cau...
The Day After
The political establishment in Washington is stunned following yesterday's rout by Donald Trump and the Republicans. The Democrats’ arch nemesis not only survived everything they threw at him, but he also took an increasing share of the minority voting block that they claimed as their own. It w...
WPI Preliminary 2025 Acreage Forecasts
The polling for the 2024 U.S. Presidential election had significant forecast errors and history will likely judge the numbers as “wrong”. While it’s hard to argue against such judgement when the results proved a historic sweep for Trump versus predictions of a tight race, the pre-election polls...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 28 October – 1 November 2024Russian analysts revised the 2024 Russian crop downwards to 128.8 MMT without newly occupied territories but with Crimea which was occupied a decade ago. This new forecast is down 11 percent from the previous year. Wheat is at 85.6 MMT – down 8...
Market Commentary: Election Day Brings CBOT Gains
It’s election day in the U.S. and the nation will decide on new leadership for the White House and Congress, though results may not be available for days or possibly even weeks. National polls indicate a tight race between candidates Trump and Harris, but betting markets tell a different story...
Tax Policy Outlook Post Election
After the votes are fully counted, as a new Administration forms, and Congress organizes, WPI will take a deeper look into the policy implications of today’s election. From today’s point of view, unless this election is an unexpected blowout (countering polling data that shows it neck and neck...
EU Confirmation Hearings; Japanese Independence; Lemonades out of Lemons; Border War
EU Confirmation HearingsIn a few months, it will be the turn of either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris’s cabinet nominees to seek confirmation by the legislature but this week it is Europe’s Commission designates confronting the hurdle of the European Parliament (EP). Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional UpdatesMEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGIONTunisia will shortly receive a shipment of 33,000 MT of U.S. corn, the first shipment in quite a while. The U.S. Grains Council office in Tunis says that they expect more U.S. corn imports in the coming weeks.Morocco has...
Livestock Industry Margins
WPI is excited to present the second edition of our newest data-driven publication Ag Perspectives Quant: U.S. Livestock Industry Profit Margins. This report offers a comprehensive look at the profitability of the U.S. beef and pork sectors, from cow-calf and farrow-to-finish producers up the v...
Market Commentary: Grains Rise on Export Demand; Soyoil, Livestock Fall on Technical Trade
The CBOT was mostly higher to start the week with fresh daily export sales announcements and a solid Export Inspections report underpinning the day’s moves. While corn, soybeans, and KC wheat all settled higher for the day, gains were muted as few traders were interested in adding significant r...
Renewable Fuel Policy Outlook in 2025
Tomorrow is election day; the make-up of Congress and who is in the White House is expected to have an impact on renewable fuel policy in 2025. As a general rule, a Republican agenda is likely to be friendlier to liquid fuels, especially petroleum fuels, whereas a Democrat agenda is more likely...
Transatlantic Inverse; Farm Bill Chances
Transatlantic InverseDepending on tomorrow’s election outcome, American businesses will either be saddled with more taxes, regulations, and attacks on consolidation, or be hit with higher import tariffs and maybe the goofy ideas of people like Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. By contrast, Europe has now...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat The long-awaited rains have finally arrived in southeastern Buenos Aires, with precipitation totals ranging from 20–50 mm. While the rainfall isn’t sufficient to complete the wheat crop, it provides relief to an area where plants were beginning to suffer. For now, it halts the declin...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Algeria bought 600 KMT of wheat in its tender that closed on Monday, buying the full volume permitted, and prices are rumored to be near $263/MT C&F. Traders suspect much of the wheat is Black Sea-origin, given the diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algiers right now...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 29 October, funds continued their aggressive short covering in the corn market with strong export sales justifying the move. Funds reduced their net short position by about 60 percent last week, and now hold a relatively small position of 35,000 contracts short. The continued exit from...
State Directed Meat; Living Space
State Directed MeatUSDA has been issuing loans and grants to startup livestock businesses with the goal of diversifying the industry, providing producers with more options, and lowering the price of meat. Now Pure Prairie Poultry of Minnesota, a beneficiary of $38.7 million in loan guarantees a...
Market Commentary: A Week of Notable Numbers
Except for soymeal, the rest of the grains and oilseeds contracts traded higher in the overnight, and opened higher this morning, but only corn and soyoil ended the day higher. New contract highs were scored today in lean hogs and Malaysian palm oil. A new contract low was marked today fo...
October Jobs Report Tepid
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the October jobs report this morning. Total nonfarm payroll employment was essentially unchanged in October (+12,000), and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent. The pre-report consensus was for an additional 100,000 payroll...
U.S. Soybean Crush Margin Outlook
The three legs of the U.S. soybean crush have each seen interesting and divergent dynamics over the past month that have influenced the crush margin outlook. Notably, soymeal prices have slumped $30/MT lower since early October and are hovering near contract lows just below the $300 mark. Conve...
Market Commentary: CBOT Debates Following Seasonal Rules
The CBOT was mixed for the day with wheat futures sinking lower after the HRW and SRW growing regions received favorable rains Wednesday and early Thursday. That, combined with export pressure from Russia and the Black Sea countries, put wheat on the defensive with funds emerging as net sellers...
Oilseed Highlights: Bounce off the Bottom?
The MarketJanuary soybeans have now rebounded a second day in a row after opening the week lower. While it came within 10-cents of the contract low, exports are booming and most of the bearish inputs (better weather and large South American crops, a weaker real, harvest pressure, and rising glo...
Livestock Roundup: Broiler Outlook
Broiler slaughter was 158.86 million head last week, up from 158.139 million the week before and continuing to run above a year ago. Broiler production in the last quarter of 2024 is forecast to be up 4 percent, bringing the total annual production up 2.2 percent from 2023. Any miss in th...
Market Commentary: End-of-Month Trade, Profit Taking Create Mixed Markets
The CBOT was mixed in moderate-volume trade on Wednesday with markets across the board seeing impacts from end-of-month position adjusting and profit taking. Wheat futures were higher on poor U.S. conditions ratings and drought conditions in the Southern Plains, despite forecasts of rains this...
Misdirected Fire; Over-Capacity
Misdirected FireThe Kamala Harris campaign is frustrated that the economy is hot, inflation has dissipated to just 2.4 percent, and yet voters are not feeling it. Politicians learned long ago to never tell the voters they are wrong and have misperceptions. Consequently, she has been acknowledgi...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 21 – 25 October 2024The Russian grain markets remained stable on the export front and slightly bearish after recent peaks. Domestic prices are trying to catch up with export price levels and even in Siberia, prices were recovering. Global pricing effects export prices in...
Market Commentary: Poor Conditions Rally Wheat; Big Crop(s) Pressure Soybeans; Hogs Hit New Highs
The CBOT was mostly higher on Tuesday with the wheat market in the lead on worrying crop conditions and persistent drought in the HRW growing region. USDA’s initial crop ratings for the winter wheat crop were the second lowest for the week since the mid-1980s, which means the rains in the two-w...
Livestock Industry Margins
WPI is excited to present a new, weekly, data-driven publication Ag Perspectives Quant: U.S. Livestock Industry Profit Margins. This report offers a comprehensive look at the profitability of the U.S. beef and pork sectors, from cow-calf and farrow-to-finish producers up the value chain through...
Interest Rate Outlook
The Fed meets next week, the day after the election. It looks likely there will be a rate cut again for the second time in as many meetings. The federal funds futures market is pricing in a 95.4 percent probability of a cut. At the September meeting, Fed members signaled another 50 basis point...
Post-Election Transatlantic
The EU’s dependency on the U.S. for both defense and economic well-being has focused discussions in Brussels on what the relationship will look like should Donald Trump win on 5 November. The Biden Administration initiated a Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in 2021 with designs to coordinate...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional UpdatesMEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, and AFRICA – MEA REGIONTurkey’s wheat production is seen dropping by 5.5 percent to 20.8 MMT according to Turksat estimates. It also sees barley production down by 11 percent to 8.2 MMT and corn down by 8 percent to 8.3 MMT. Soybean prod...
Market Commentary: Oil Drags CBOT Lower; Hogs Hit New Highs; Cattle Rise After Report
The CBOT was mostly lower for the day with the sharp decline in crude oil futures dragging soyoil, the broader soy complex, and corn and wheat lower. There was little fresh fundamental news to guide commodity futures for the day, which gave the oil market’s plunge an outsized influence on ag fu...
Newsom for President; Fake Meat Lacks Standing
Newsome for PresidentUntil this past Friday, U.S. ethanol producers feared that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) might make an effort to limit the marketing of their products in the Golden State. Now they are singing in the streets as California Governor Gavin Newsom instructed CARB to...
Food Price Outlook Improves
There are often lags in time between when consumers notice a change in the economy, they begin to voice concerns, politicians begin to echo those concerns, and ultimately policymakers take some form of action, if any. Food price inflation is a perfect example of that dynamic. Democratic preside...
RFK Jr Role in a Potential Trump Admin Worrying Aggies
With the election one week from tomorrow, many aggies are turning their attention to the probable role of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a Trump Administration should Trump win the election. Over the last week, this is literally the biggest topic of conversation among this analyst’s contacts and sour...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Russia’s winter crops may see 1.5 million hectares (Mha) go unseeded this year due to poor weather in key growing regions. Originally, 20 Mha was expected to be sown to all winter crops. Grain production in 2025 is unlikely to exceed 120 MMT now, due to the acreage reduction...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Weather Argentina saw continued rainfall throughout last week and so far during October, nearly all of the country’s agricultural regions experienced at least some precipitation. In areas like the Nucleus Region, totals have even exceeded historical averages for October. This rainfall has...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 22 October, funds engaged in the expected short covering in the corn market amid the unexpected surge in exports. Funds’ total buying volume, however, was below expectations at just shy of 20,000 contracts though they certainly added to that number after Tuesday’s data reporting deadlin...
Market Commentary: Mix Week Reflecting Fundamentals
Yesterday’s bullish Export Sales report was followed by more sales of corn and soybeans today. However, there had already been sufficient gains in the futures market this week and current sales are simply on track with USDA’s forecast. The trade does not want to get too far out in front of the...
Cattle on Feed Report
USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today, which was mostly in line with pre-report expectations; only placements came outside of the consensus forecast. 10252024dj.jpg 50.4 KBSeptember marks the beginning of the fall run for cattle placements. Placements last month at 2.156 million...
Forecasting 2025 Cattle Inventories: Small Herd Increases Expected
As WPI has written about several times recently, the beef industry is eagerly awaiting the January Cattle Inventory report from USDA to see whether producers are starting to expand the herd. This information will be valuable for gauging cattle supplies in 2025 and 2026 and will help set pricing...
Market Commentary: Corn, Wheat Rise on Export Data; Soybeans Fall on South American Weather
Exports remain the name of the commodity game this week with all eyes on the UDSA daily “flash” export sales announcements as well as this week’s weekly Export Sales report. On Thursday, both of those factors did not disappoint and gave the already bullish corn market another boost. USDA report...
Oilseed Highlights: Steady Under a Delicate Balance
The MarketU.S. soybean exports have been impressive, but funds continue to focus on South American rains. For the week to date, November soybean futures are higher but cannot maintain a close back up over $10/bushel. They are challenging resistance but remain below the 50-day MA at 1007.25/bush...
BRICS Grain Exchange; Transatlantic Gaslighting
BRICS Grain ExchangeVladmir Putin used his BRICS conference in Kazan, Russia to formally suggest the creation of a grain exchange by the bloc of countries. He said such an exchange could later be expanded to other products and that it would " contribute to the formation of fair and predictable...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview
USDA will release its Cattle on Feed report tomorrow; the pre-report consensus of analysts’ estimates is for the inventory of cattle on feed as of 1 October to be 99.7 percent of last year; September placements and marketings are expected to be 95.8 and 102 percent respectively of last year’s t...
Market Commentary: More Exports, More Gains
A sixth straight day of daily “flash” export sales announcements from USDA sent CBOT corn and soybean futures higher with funds covering shorts and commercials positioning bullishly too. The export demand for corn caught the market by surprise and has created the current rally, while the season...
Inflation Disconnect; Economic Opinions
Inflation DisconnectEconomists including those at the Federal Reserve use so-called core inflation when assessing the level of rising prices in the economy. Core inflation excludes food and energy prices since they are considered more volatile, and less directly impacted by the Fed’s monetary p...
TFP as Focus
The International Monetary Fund increased its forecast for U.S. GDP growth this year to 2.8 percent, versus 0.8 percent for the Euro Area and the 0.9 percent average for the non-U.S. G-7 countries. Competitiveness is said to be the primary term in Brussels these days, as it should be. The avera...
Mercosur Regional Analysis: Soybeans
Last week, soybean trading saw a lot of activity, particularly with Brazilian old crop shipments and increased movement in U.S. new crop sales. CNF China trade levels began at 240X for the PNW and 255X for the U.S. Gulf, rising rapidly due to several factors. A drop in Chicago futures triggered...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 14 – 18 October 2024Russian grain markets remained slightly bullish but not as bullish as a week ago. The biggest concern of all grain exporters is a “threat” from the Russian Grain Export Union that October export prices should be $240/MT and that to make this happen the...
Market Commentary: Exports, Weather Concerns Push CBOT Higher
The CBOT was mostly higher on Tuesday as export demand continues to fuel what looks like the start of a demand-led swing higher in the markets. Tuesday marked the fifth straight business day with a “flash” export sales announcement for corn, with Mexico responsible for essentially all of the de...
U.S. Dietary Guidelines: Booze and Junk Food
Every five years, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are updated. The new guidelines will be issued next year for 2025-2030. This guidance provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and...
Policy Shortz
U.S. – EU Reset: The transatlantic relationship must be reset after the upcoming election. Brussels produced a state-by-state report on Europe’s trade and investment engagement to help set the environment. U.S. technology firms argue it is ludicrous for Europe to think it can be competitive in...
Bangladesh Food Import Projection
Bangladesh is the third largest food importer in the world. It imports over $15 billion worth of food annually or about 11 percent of its total food consumption. Imports include 5 MMT of grain (3.57 MMT is wheat), plus palm oil, milk powder, and other products. Roughly 3.5 percent of its food i...
The Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AFRICA – MEA REGIONAfrica spends $75 billion every year importing cereals according to the African Development Bank – 50 MMT being wheat – 27 MMT imported by North Africa, 12 MMT by East Africa and 9 MMT by West Africa. Wheat...
Market Commentary: Exports Rally Corn, Soybeans but Pressure Wheat; Hogs Hit New Contract Highs
The CBOT saw mixed trade again to start the week with a slate of fresh daily “flash” export sales announcements supporting corn and soybeans, as did a generally positive Export Inspections report. That helped soybeans recover from Friday’s drubbing and allowed the corn market to follow through...
Biggest Monopoly; Aggies Challenge Trump; Food Safety Risks and Perceptions
Biggest MonopolyReflecting voter concerns about food inflation, both Harris and Trump are attacking the food system and implying concerns about monopoly power. But no industry is as monopolistic as politics where consumer choice is often limited to just two parties. Voters are near evenly split...
Aging, Shrinking Dairy Herd Tied to Beef Dynamics
There has been much discussion this year to the size of the beef cattle herd. The year started with the lowest overall cattle herd since 1951. Demand for beef, high prices for beef and cattle, and marginal increases in imported feeder cattle have all helped maintain production, as has heavier s...
The Mercosur Regional Analysis
WeatherThe week continued with rain in some areas of the agricultural region that spread water across almost the entire region, ending a 10-day period of instability. The exceptions were the western part of Buenos Aires Province, which received only a few millimeters despite needing more, and t...
Olive Oil Volatility
Bloomberg notes the problems confronting small scale olive oil producers in Spain and Italy. Production is volatile and has been under duress from drought and climate change. As a result, the price has risen, attracting investors who are creating larger scale farms. The article says, “The Super...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Kazakhstan and Egypt are working to negotiated trade terms that would allow wheat to trade from the former country to the latter. The two countries are reportedly working on resolving issues that prevent Kazakhstan from participating in GASC tenders and are discussing the pos...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 15 October, funds reversed their short covering trends and emerged as net sellers in the soybean, corn, and soymeal markets after the bearish October WASDE and shift towards wetter weather in South America. Funds doubled their short position in soybean futures and are now short a small...
Market Commentary: Harvest Pressure Outweighs Demand
There was modest to lower volume generally today, except in wheat where there was a gang beating. Wheat closed lower in the overnight, opened lower this morning, and sealed the deal with losses at the close. Soyoil was treated similarly but soybeans and corn each were higher in the overnight an...
Food Inflation and the Food Service Sector
September retail sales rose slightly more than expected and the underlying details of the report were solid. Sales rose 0.4 percent in September versus a consensus expected rise of 0.3 percent, while revisions to the prior months’ activity pushed the overall gain to 0.5 percent. The monthly inc...
Cow-Calf Margins Outperform Forecasts, Imply Herd Rebuilding
With the start of the fall weaning and marketing program for most of America’s cow-calf producers, we’re starting to see the first realized profits for the sector this year. From January through September, WPI’s cow-calf profit models are built upon the assumption that most producers will marke...
Market Commentary: Turnaround Thursday on Exports, Weather
Bears started out the week in full control of the CBOT, but their grip loosened on Thursday and bulls managed to post at turnaround in several markets. Chief among the turnaround was corn futures where an early dip below $4.00 in the December contract triggered short covering and some commercia...
Livestock Roundup: A Look at Cattle Herd Rebuilding
As WPI reported yesterday, the total supply of beef per capita is up this year over last based on imports and heavier slaughter weights; both are related to the pace of beef cow salughter. A bigger percent of fed cattle in the mix has resulted in heavier slaughter weights, as well as feeder cat...
Oilseed Highlights: Under Pressure but Hovering
The MarketToday’s IGC report increased the growth in global soybean carryout and thus reinforced the bearish trend in the November futures contract. There are still counterfactuals such as Brazil’s delayed planting, low moisture U.S. pods, plus wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) and Brown stem rot (Cada...
State Control of Markets – Russia; State Control of Markets – U.S
State Control of MarketsRussia’s agriculture ministry recently “suggested” that grain exporters not sell wheat internationally below the minimum price of $250/MT FOB. The minimum price approach is less clumsy than export quotas but is a harder stop than Moscow’ use of export taxes to try and ma...
Market Commentary: Corn Rallies on Export Sales; Bean Bears Return in Heavy Options Trade
The CBOT was mixed on Wednesday with corn rising after the USDA reported “flash” export sales of over 1.9 MMT of corn to Mexico and unknown destinations combined. The news put a bid under futures and caused corn spreads to firm slightly with funds buying back some of what they sold earlier this...
The Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 7 – 11 October 2024The world has been watching the 2024 Russian grain harvest forecasts, especially wheat production. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture was not making any sharp moves in one direction or the other, while domestic analysts have revised the 2024 grain crop...
Asymmetric on Tariffs
Most economists are clear in describing tariffs as a border tax. Their impacts include increasing costs on consumers and reducing trade, and thus self-harming a nation’s economic well-being. Yet, it is difficult to identify a nation that doesn’t use tariffs, and most utilize them more than the...
Market Commentary: Bears Win Again, but Crush Report Buoys Soybeans
Bears were in control of the CBOT for the second straight day with very few bullish news items seeming to exist on the horizon. Between improving weather forecasts for the Northern Hemisphere, lower threat of a La Nina this year, strong harvest progress in the U.S., large crop forecasts for Bra...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Algeria decided to bar French companies from its wheat import tenders due to France’s support for Morocco’s continued sovereignty over the Western Sahara region. All tender participants have been advis...
Planned Website Downtime Wednesday, 16 October
WPI is completing a series of upgrades to our website that will require about 50 minutes of downtime on Wednesday, 16 October starting at 12:00 PM EDT. There is never a “good” time for a website to be down, but this was deemed to be among the least disruptive to our U.S. and interna...
Red Meat and Poultry Situation
As WPI reported last week, the October WASDE increased its projection for beef production by 205 million pounds on higher slaughter and heavier carcass weights and increased the 2025 forecast for beef production by 300 million pounds. Nonetheless, October slaughter is starting slowly. Total sla...
Farm Subsidies on the March
Subsidies can increase output and there are many ways to subsidize an industry, but that doesn’t mean that countries should do it. Cost of Production: The EU badly wants to become self-sufficient in plant protein. More than four decades ago Europe lost a dispute settlement cas...
Market Commentary: Bears Gain Control; Soybeans End Below $10, Corn Breaks Support
Bears regained control of the CBOT ag market trade on Monday, seemingly not because of the WASDE but rather because of shifting weather forecasts and apparently receding threats. The weather in South America is trending more favorably for the corn and soybean crops down there, and showers in th...
Politics: Will 2024 Election Yield an Unprecedented Triple Flip?
The 2024 election is three weeks from tomorrow. This cycle has been unusual. The campaign started as a Biden versus Trump rematch of the 2020 campaign, the first such rematch since 1956 (only the seventh time in history and only the second time since 1900). However, President Biden stepped down...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Political tensions between Algeria and France reportedly prompted the former country to exclude its traditionally favored European trading partner from a recent wheat purchase tender. Algeria in its latest tender specifically requested no submissions from France and purchase...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat After weeks of anticipation, rains finally arrived in the most needed areas of Argentina. At the beginning of the week, the central and northern parts of Córdoba, central and northern Santa Fe, and parts of Entre Ríos received significant rainfall. Toward the end of th...
Going up with a Bang
A futures contract that persistently moves up or down by just a penny or two each day imposes its own burden on the market. While speculators are said to prosper from volatility, and sellers want higher prices and buyers prefer them lower, everyone prefers a story. Apparently, the cotton market...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Through 8 October, funds continued to exit their formerly massive short positions in corn and soybean futures and now hold a small fraction of that commitment. Funds covered 40 percent of their short position in soybeans and are now only short 18,000 contracts. Similarly, funds bought back half...
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...
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...
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...
Market Commentary: Only Pork Survives the WASDE Intact
The U.S. crop situation for 2024/25 was largely firmed up by today’s USDA October WASDE report. Net, net – there is a lot of grain available. Not enough for any precipitous drop in prices today, but only Lean Hogs managed to end the day higher. Today’s report reinforced...
WASDE Outlook for Livestock: More Beef
Today’s WASDE increased the price outlook for 2024 fed steers after dropping it in September. The September WASDE dropped the fed steer price by $3/cwt to $185.11/cwt from the month prior. Today the price forecast was adjusted up $1/cwt. The forecast for the 2025 annual...
Cocoa Market Update: Prices Rise as Stocks Fall
At the end of July 2024, WPI published an article looking at the drivers of the cocoa market’s massive rally in 2023 and 2024 and that offered an outlook for MY 2024/25. This article offers a brief update on market conditions and developments that have occurred in the two months since our...
Market Commentary: Wheat Rises as Russia Considers Export Ban; Cattle Extend Rally
The CBOT saw wheat emerge as the upside leader for the day with multiple bullish stories offering support, including one from Reuters that indicates Russia may be considering a ban on grain exports. Details are nonexistent, but there is reportedly a meeting soon between the ag ministry and grai...
Oilseed Highlights: Pre-WASDE but Relatively Firm
The Market The soybean market has been sliding heading into tomorrow USDA October WASDE report. The trade has positioned itself in the middle of the September trading range and is still positioned in a somewhat bullish position slightly above the 50-day trading average. The market has been tren...
Livestock Roundup: Red Meat Exports
August trade data was released yesterday. High prices of U.S. beef exports have kept exports down. Compared to August 2023, total exports were 102,682 MT, which was the lowest monthly total since January. For the first eight months of the year, January through August, exports at 856,834 MT were...
Market Commentary: CBOT Trades Weather and WASDE Expectations
Trade at the CBOT on Wednesday was dominated by two factors: global weather and preparations for the October WASDE report, which will come out on Friday. The weather was mostly relevant for wheat as parts of Russia, Ukraine, Australia, and the U.S. Plains battle persistent and increasingly dry...
Policy Potpourri
Good Many Organisms: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded this week to scientists at Google DeepMind using AI to predict the structure of proteins and inventing new ones. Capitaslizing on the opportunities, Ginkgo Bioworks announced that it would make available to researchers its API that u...
Say Cheese!
Ilena Peng from Bloomberg has written about the expansion of U.S. cheese exports. Former French President Charles de Gaulle once noted that his country has hundreds of different cheeses and the U.S. had hundreds of different religions. But the U.S. has since become a major producer of many diff...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 30 September – 4 October 2024 The first week of September proved bullish in European Russia and slightly bearish in the Asian part and Siberia. The weather factor is important but it’s not the key driver. It may become the decisive factor later on depending on...
Market Commentary: Brazil Rains, Crude Oil Selloff Sink Soy Complex; Cattle Extend Rally on Beef Demand
Trade at the CBOT was mostly lower on Tuesday with the soy complex leading the way south as weather models show more promising rains for South America. Soybeans turned sharply lower on the forecasts and scored a bearish technical day on the chart, with additional selling pressure coming from th...
War on Food Companies; Holding Back the Future
War on Food Companies Market skeptics like U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) have stepped up their attack on food companies by accusing them of price gouging by “squeezing profits out of consumers” through shrinkflation and avoiding federal taxes. They charge that comp...
USDA Announces Cattle Price Discovery Rule
Today, the Biden Administration issued an Advanced Notice of Public Rulemaking (ANPR) on Price Discovery and Transparency in Markets for Fed Cattle. This is the fifth livestock and poultry market regulation put forth under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&SA) and under the Biden Executive...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt has a program that it says will reduce wheat imports and cut subsidies on bread. The plan is to blend wheat flour with local corn and sorghum flour. Savings, it is said, could be in the hundreds of millions...
Market Commentary: Harvest and Weather Pressure Continue
Clear weather and rolling combines in the Northern Hemisphere together with prospective showers in South America maintain pressure on commodity futures. However, volume today was relatively low except in soybeans and livestock. While soybeans closed lower, the end of Golden Week and China&rsquo...
Allowing Private Contributions to Conservation Programs to Create Public Assets
USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) closed the comment period for the implementing rules for the Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to Incentivize Natural Solutions (SUSTAINS) Act last month. The Act authorizes USDA to accept private contributions to cha...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat Despite the lack of rain, the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange maintains its outlook for this season’s wheat crop. As we mentioned previously, the rains in August and September were disappointing, and thus far in October they’ve been absent. Additionally, we are seeing rising tempe...
2024/25 Corn Outlook: Strong Demand Shifts Prices Higher
In light of the surprisingly bullish Grain Stocks data, WPI has updated our quarterly corn market outlook to reflect the supply and demand trends reflected in the USDA’s most recent data. Since the September edition of our quarterly outlook, WPI’s forecast has shifted to feature sma...
Market Commentary: Next Week’s Weather Makes or Breaks
It was another day lower for the grain and oilseeds sectors, and another day of weak volume for corn and the soy sector. The causes have not changed: A strengthening dollar Very good harvest weather in the U.S. Potentially better weather in South America late next week If good rains materiali...
U.S. Soybean Crush Margin Outlook
The recent strength in U.S. soyoil and soymeal prices has helped push “board” crush margin (i.e., the margin implied or calculated by CBOT futures contracts) to new highs with the VVX margin hitting $1.62/bushel and the HHH margins topping the $1.45 mark for the first time in over a...
Port Strike Suspended: A Look at Short-Term and Long-Term Issues
East and Gulf Coast port workers are back on the job today after striking on 1 October. Many of the affected ports will add weekend overtime hours to load trucks; several ports will remain closed to trucks today as containers are offloaded to prepared for resumptions of trucking. Importers repo...
WPI Website Restored
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Market Commentary: Multiple Influences from Macros to Weather
The somewhat bullish influence of Monday’s stocks report has now fully faded. The market today pretty much ignored a solid USDA Export Sales report and instead focused on mostly bearish factors: The EU is postponing enactment of its deforestation policy. Macro jitters around the Middle E...
Oilseed Highlights: EUDR Decision and South American Weather Weigh on Complex
The Market It has been a tough week thus far for soybeans and meal. The EU’s decision to delay its European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) means there will be no break for U.S. exporters in competition from South America and Southeast Asia. The two days of decline have November soy...
Livestock Roundup: Broiler Outlook
Hatcheries set 242.69 million eggs in incubators during the week ending 28 September, up 6.1 percent from a year ago. So far this year, egg sets are up 1.9 percent over last year, and to date through the second half of the year are up 3.5 percent. Last year, eggs set started trendng lower in J...
Coffee Rally Stalls as Weather Shifts, Bear Move Ahead?
Coffee futures have been on a massive rally in 2024 with the ICE “C” contract rising above $2.60/lb last week, breaching that point for just the fifth time since 1970. The catalyst for the rally has been well reported this year, with declining stocks and weather issues in major prod...
Market Commentary: Wheat Jumps Higher on Massive Egypt Imports; Soymeal Falls on EUDR News
Wheat remains the darling of the CBOT with more bullish news pouring into the complex. Today’s rally was sparked by reports that Egypt has booked over 3 MMT of wheat from the Black Sea (presumably Russia) to be exported over the next six months. That move comes as Russian wheat stocks are...
Ludditic Longshoremen; Symptom not Disease
Ludditic Longshoremen Labor strikes are always about money, working conditions and job protection but the latter is skyrocketing to the top. The U.S. East and Gulf Coast port workers’ strike is a prime example. Automation is threatening the number of longshoreman positions needed, and the...
Kenya’s Crop Choices
In yesterday’s WPI Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional analysis report, it was noted that Kenyan farmers are switching from growing maize to growing sweet potatoes. The latter being easier to grow than drought sensitive maize and netting three crops per year. But whether maize...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 23–27 September 2024 The Russian grain market was bullish in European Russia but bearish in the Asian part and Siberia because Kazakhstan introduced a temporary ban on imports of Russian wheat. Grain storage facilities are being filled up to the brim with new crop c...
Market Commentary: Grain Stocks Fuel 2-Day Corn Rally; Wheat Rises with Russian Prices
CBOT grains and oilseeds seem to be playing “follow the leader” and have recently switched roles. Previously, soybeans were rallying and pulling grain futures grudgingly higher, but that has completely flipped following Monday’s Grain Stocks report. Now, corn and wheat are ris...
Trade Policy Spin; Interstate Trade Barriers
Trade Policy Spin It is an election year, and the Biden Administration is claiming to have opened up $26.7 billion in overseas market access for American farmers. But that carries the same weight with farmers as grocery buyers hearing that food inflation has declined. They are still paying more...
East and Gulf Port Workers on Strike
A port worker strike in the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Ports started today affecting container shipments, while a strike in Vancouver, Canada affecting grain shipments came to an end on Saturday with the final ratification vote to come this Friday, 4 October. As WPI’s Matt Herrington...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Pakistan’s wheat imports in 2024/25 could drop to almost nothing as a result of the very good harvest in 2024 – up by 3.2 MMT. Wheat production was well above the average at a record level of 31,400 MM...
Market Commentary: Grain Stocks Bullish Corn but Neutral Soy, Wheat; Port Strike Looms
Monday’s CBOT trade was essentially dedicated to the Grain Stocks report with pre-report trading seeing muted action and steady volumes while post-report trade saw a meaningful rally in corn and a pullback in soybeans. The report issued a surprisingly small corn stocks figure, which spurr...
Hurricane Helene Impacts in the Southeast
After making landfall along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Hurricane Helene struck northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. All commodities in the region have been affected, including pecan orchards and timber land, but also corn, soybeans, cotton and poultry. Given the location, hog pro...
Green for You, Grey for Me; Slaying National Champions
Green for You, Grey for Me Some say the EU has been vague about whether it will seek a delay in the December 30 implementation deadline for implementing the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Brussels told WTO members last week that delay would require a legislative change, which is not imposs...
Russia’s Grain Shortfall
Today’s USDA quarterly Grain Stocks report provided the market with a bullish input but there may be another shoe to drop. Russia’s stocks to use ratio for corn and wheat have been dropping for four straight years. Over that timeframe, it is down 64 percent for corn and 48 percent f...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina’s Weather The weather remains a recurring issue in Argentina. The lack of rainfall across much of the country's agricultural region is starting to impact both the wheat crop, currently in its yield-defining stages, and the sowing of summer crops. Precipitation anomaly maps...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Four regions in Russia’s Siberia have declared states of emergency due to heavy rains and flooding. Milling Wheat Wheat markets were higher last week with U.S. futures rising about $5/MT while the Paris market added €1.25/MT for the week. Markets remain conc...
Grain Stocks Report Charts
The attached PDF offers graphical depiction and analysis of the latest USDA Grain Stocks data for key commodities. The data is, of course, taken from the quarterly Grain Stocks report. WPI recently completed an expansion of the analysis and welcomes any feedback/suggestions. ...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Funds activity in the ag futures markets was more subtle than expected for the second straight week. Specifically, fund short-covering in the corn and wheat markets lagged expectations by a wide margin. In corn futures, funds bought back 3,700 contracts (2.6 percent) of their prior short, which...
Market Commentary: Pre-Report Plus Brazil Lightens Risk
Volume was light except in soymeal, Feeders and lean hogs. USDA’s final quarterly stocks report for MY 2023/24 arrives Monday and it has surprised to the bullish side for the past four out of five years. So the goal was to get out of short positions. On the week, soymeal exploded on...
Policy Quick Hits
Government Funding President Biden yesterday signed a continuing resolution passed by Congress to fund the government at current levels until 20 December. There were no riders – such as an extension of the farm bill – included. This sets up another deadline before the Christmas holi...
Cow-Calf Margins Down from July but Still Imply Herd Rebuilding
Since WPI’s July update on cow-calf margins, expected 2024 returns for producers have shifted lower but remain well above year-ago values and near record highs. WPI’s models indicate that revenue for the “average” Southern Plains (i.e., Kansas) cow-calf operation will hi...
Nudge versus Cudgel; New Japanese PM; Pesticide Restrictions
Nudge versus Cudgel The Biden Administration has achieved some market openings in various countries, the most recent being obtaining agreement from Chile to accept American cheese products marked with European origin names like gouda, cheddar, and provolone. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug M...
Market Commentary: Crude Oil Selloff Sinks Soyoil, Soybeans; Corn, Wheat Lower Ahead of Stocks Report
A surprise selloff in crude oil put heavy selling pressure on the CBOT soy complex on Thursday, with soyoil and soybeans scoring bearish reversals for the day. The weakness in the soy complex sent corn and wheat into the red as well, with traders unwilling to take more long risks heading into t...
Oilseed Highlights: Weakness Today But Still Plenty of Support
The Market The soy complex has had a bullish week thus far, moving higher on a weather premium added for Brazil, and news that China, the largest importer of soybeans, will significantly boost economic stimulus. Short-covering had been rampant until today’s selloff. News that Saudi Arabia...
Livestock Roundup: Hogs and Pigs Report Mostly Neutral
Today, USDA released its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report for the June through August quarter. The total inventory of hogs and pigs on 1 Spetmeber was 76.48 milllion head, which was up from 76.133 million head in 2023. Typically, inventories grow from 1 June and peak for the ye...
Market Commentary: Soyoil and Beans Lead Sector Higher
The CBOT was higher once again with soybeans and the oilseed complex leading the way. Drought in Brazil and the surging soyoil prices have supported the complex and driven a widespread wave of short-covering by funds. Corn and wheat futures followed the oilseed markets higher at midweek but fai...
Industry Consolidation
U.S. antitrust law is complicated, but current efforts to block a merger between grocery retailers Albertsons and Kroger may not fit the bill. Current triggers under the law include: Market share of 70 percent or more, or less than 50 percent if barriers limit competition. Barriers to entry pr...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 16–20 September 2024 Russian grain markets remained stagnant as export demand is weak and domestic demand is even weaker. Moreover, appreciation of grains earlier in the month reached its peak at this stage of the game and buyers are very careful right now. Sellers...
Market Commentary: Soybeans, Soyoil Extend Rallies; Wheat, Corn Fall as Short-Covering Fades
The CBOT saw diverging trading patterns on Tuesday with soybeans and soyoil continuing their rallies and extending gains to new highs. China is rumored to be purchasing up to 1.2 MMT (44 Mbu or 20 cargoes) of U.S. soybeans for October-November delivery, which put a bid under the market. Too, th...
Hogs and Pigs Report Preview
On Thursday, USDA will release its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report for the June through August quarter showing the inventory as of 1 September. Pre-report expectations peg the total inventory at 100.5 percent of last year. That would imply 75.7 million head, the largest inventory for the quarter...
Tariff Spiral and WTO Failure; Nuclear Power and GMO’s
Tariff Spiral and WTO Failure Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump now says he will impose 200 percent tariffs on farm machinery from John Deere should the company move its manufacturing to Mexico. He said he would also provide incentives for foreign companies to move their operations t...
Energy and Agriculture
Global agriculture produces energy, with 23 percent of ethanol produced from sugarcane, and another 7 percent produced from the molasses byproduct of processing sugarcane or sugarbeets. Increased production of ethanol has caused global sugar carryover to decline. Agriculture is also a major con...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Bangladesh reports that it will be importing 400,000 MT of wheat immediately with the normal buying approval being shortened from 42 days to 15 days. The change is being made in order to maintain food security. Th...
Market Commentary: CBOT Rallies on Weather, Short Covering; Monetary Policy Turns Bullish Commodities
The CBOT jumped sharply higher to start the new week with wheat leading the move with overnight strength. Fund short covering drove much of the day’s gains, but dryness in Brazil and the Black Sea, along with some rain-induced U.S. harvest delays, offered some fundamental motivation...
Hypocritical on Process Standards; Buy America Bust; Politics of the Port Strike
Hypocritical on Process Standards EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will make a decision this week on implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation. It is set to take effect at the start of 2025 but both internal and external forces want the measure delayed and modified. That inc...
Pending Port Strikes: U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and Vancouver Canada
With a pending 1 October strike deadline on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts by the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), the U.S. Department of Labor has reached out to the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), a group that represents employers of the East and Gulf Coasts longshore indus...
Running Out of Protein
Europe ran out of energy when the Russian attack on Ukraine forced it to reduce imports from Russia. Europe lacks the ability to defend itself despite Russia’s threat on its eastern border. Now Europe is reducing its consumption of meat but failing to invest in meat alternatives that coul...
European Market Analysis
Regional News WPI sources in Brussels say it’s increasingly likely that the EU Deforestation Regulations will be delayed until the region can develop better implementing systems. Recall that EUDR – which would force massive reporting and traceability requirements on seven comm...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Argentina Economic/Policy Update Argentine President Javier Milei, in a public speech this week, presented the 2025 budget that will be sent to Congress for approval. Farmers had high expectations for potential announcements that might improve their business or provide visibility concerni...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Funds activity in the ag futures markets was more subdued last week than expected. Funds were slight net buyers in soybeans, soymeal, corn, and across the wheat complex, but the percentage shifts in their positions and overall buying volumes underperformed expectations. In the soy complex...
Market Commentary: Wheat Retraces; Soyoil Surges
Wheat was the big gainer last week but this week it gave up most of those gains. And soyoil was last week’s biggest loser but it rose to the top this week. Lean hogs also staged a major reversal after losing 1.32 percent last week and then rising 4.1 percent this week. Where there...
Too Bad for Ag, Tariff Impacts; Climate and Agriculture
Too Bad for Ag In a surprise from the Biden Administration, Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh said that the U.S. should negotiate more sectoral specific trade agreements and outlined new incentives under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework to entice more buy-in from other countries...
Neutral Cattle on Feed Report
USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today. All categories came in near expectations, making the report neutral. August placements at 1.98 million head were above the average for the month during this cattle cycle of 1.93 million head, but still below last year. As WPI noted yesterd...
Weaker Consumer Finances Darken Economic Outlook, Despite Interest Rate Cuts
The past two weeks have seen the typical influx of macroeconomic data releases, most of which helped prompt the Federal Reserve to issue its 50-bps interest rate cut on Wednesday. While the interest rate cut was initially viewed as a positive signal (lower interest rates generally increase econ...
Market Commentary: Wheat Falls Amid Weak Russian Prices; Soyoil Rises on Exports; Macro Markets Boost Cattle
Markets and traders were broadly enthusiastic following the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 50-bps cut to its target interest rate on Wednesday, but you wouldn’t know that from looking at the grain or oilseed markets. Wheat futures were sharply lower on Thursday amid pressure from French whe...
Oilseed Highlights: Bouncing Off Seasonal Lows
The Market U.S. soybeans have a nearly $1/bushel advantage as Brazilian basis moves higher. The result is that last week’s export sales were substantial. Rumors are rampant of more Chinese purchasing of U.S. soybeans. Argentina reportedly bought U.S. soybeans but those may washout on fina...
How Not to Resuscitate; Micromanagement
How Not to Resuscitate The European Parliament rejected the Commission’s proposal to allow tolerance levels for pesticide residues on some imported foods. Allowing a rat pack of politicians to directly decide scientific issues only contributes to domestic decline. Pesticides can be produc...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle on Feed Preview
USDA will release its Cattle on Feed report tomorrow; the pre-report consensus analysts’ estimate is for the inventory of cattle on feed as of 1 September to be 101 percent of last year. August placements and marketing are expected to be 98.5 and 96.5 percent respectively of last year&rsq...
Market Commentary: Soy Complex Rises on China Rumors, Brazil Drought; Hogs Extend Rally
Soybeans saw the liveliest action of the major grain/oilseed contracts on Wednesday with a strong, 18-cent overnight rally developing on rumors of Chinese export business. That rally fizzled, however, after the USDA did not report any daily “flash” export sales at 9 AM ET and the ma...
High Cost of Food; Sick Man in Europe
High Cost of Food Gallop’s annual Work and Education survey found that Americans have soured on the restaurant and grocery business. They still love farmers but have followed Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris in faulting the food industry for inflation. Over the past year, fav...
More Food, and Fewer Children
Few philanthropists are as focused on hunger in Sub-Saharan Africa than Bill Gates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has spent billions of dollars on the problem. Activists do not like his promotion of GMO’s as a solution, but they are not as focused as he is on human suffering...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 9–13 September 2024 Russian grain markets remained stable with only corn slightly bullish, possibly showing the first real signs of a lower crop this season. Farmers are playing a waiting game switching to sunflower seed trade which is showing bullish sentiments and...
Market Commentary: Grains Drift Sideways as Harvest Looms; Livestock Rally on Strong Cash Trade
The CBOT was mostly sideways on Tuesday with funds still paring back a few shorts in the corn and soy complex while resuming some light selling in wheat futures. There was little fresh news for the day, which contributed significantly to the lack of price action. Russian FOB offers continue to...
Three Wheat Peculiarity
The December SRW and HRW contracts closed lower today, while December HRS added value. These three wheat contracts often move in unison, but not always. And they have many other differences that define them. HRS is typically priced higher due to its greater protein content and thus demand, espe...
New EU Commission; America First Channels Sovereignty
New EU Commission European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made known her nominees to run the government in Brussels and the trade and agriculture portfolios have interesting selections. As was speculated previously, Christophe Hansen from Luxembourg has been picked for the agricultur...
Ad Hoc Farm Bill in the Works?
The current underlying farm bill (extended for a year last year) expires in 13 days. Another extension is likely, but there is also some movement on Capitol Hill to provide some ad hoc assistance with a potential extension. The 2024 federal fiscal year expires in 13 days. Without funding,...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s GASC is reported to have arranged a private purchase of 430,000 MT of Russian wheat at a price of $231 CIF. GASC has not confirmed this purchase. Egypt’s wheat imports, on a dollar basis,...
Market Commentary: Bears Win as CBOT Emerges from Post-WASDE Weekend
The CBOT emerged from the post-WASDE weekend with bears gaining the upper hand in a relatively light news day. Wheat was the big loser for the day as profit taking developed when futures neared the $6.00 mark that kicked values sharply lower. Corn and soybeans were in the red for the day as wel...
Future of EU Agriculture; Future of U.S. Agriculture
Future of EU Agriculture Mercosur: Newly appointed French Prime Minister Michel Barnier reiterated French opposition to a trade agreement with Mercosur at the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil, saying he is seeking coalition partners for a blocking minority. Meanwhile, Mercosur leaders receive...
SUSTAINS Act Under the Radar
Today is the final day to submit comments to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under a request for information (RFI) on the Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to Incentivize Natural Solutions (SUSTAINS) Act. That legislation was passed as a rider on the 2023 a...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Wheat The Rosario Grain Exchange reports that wheat fields in the central, northern, and western parts of the planted area are suffering from a lack of water, raising doubts about its current production estimate of 20.5 MMT- a figure considered high by many in the market. In September, th...
European Market Analysis
Regional News Last Thursday, a Ukrainian merchant vessel carrying grain and bound for Egypt was struck by a Russian missile in the Black Sea waters near Romania. The event is escalating the geopolitical tensions between the two countries and threatens Ukraine’s ability to protect ci...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Funds continued covering shorts across the grain and oilseed complex through last Tuesday as futures trended firmer heading into the September WASDE. The most notable short covering was in wheat where funds bought back 30 percent of the CBOT position and 33 percent of their HRW short. The buyin...
Market Commentary: It Was Wheat’s Week
Russia’s Vladimir Putin warned that Ukraine using Western long-range missiles to attack inside his country would bring NATO into the war. That and his threats to use nuclear weapons and the attack this week on a grain carrying ship in the Black Sea pressured the gold market and likely whe...
Hurricane Francine Energy Production Disruptions
The WTI Crude oil futures saw its third consecutive day of gains from the impacts of Hurricane Francine in the Gulf of Mexico and the contract remains up on the week. Francine made landfall on Wednesday on the Louisiana coast and has now been downgraded to a tropical storm. It is tr...
WPI’s Post-WASDE Quarterly Corn, Soy Outlook
Now that the WASDE has come and gone, it’s time for the commodity market analyst community to argue about why USDA’s projections are wrong and what the world will actually look like over the next marketing year. WPI is loath to miss this monthly festival of forecasting, so we offer...
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...
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...
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...
Market Commentary: USDA Confirms Record Corn, Soy Yields but Ending Stocks Fall
For a WASDE report that confirmed record-large corn and soybean yields, futures’ reaction to the data was relatively muted. Those hoping for a festival of bearish numbers were disappointing as USDA moderated the impacts of larger yields with reductions in 2023/24 carryout and modest &ndas...
Farm Bill Force; Black Sea Risks; Food Price Competition
Farm Bill Force A coalition of 300 agricultural groups sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging passage of a new farm bill. Some on Capitol Hill see it as unachievable and sought to add a one-year extension of current law onto a continuing resolution. Instead, there will be one more push d...
Livestock Roundup: WASDE Trims Cattle Price Outlook
The big news on the livestock side of today’s WASDE was USDA’s reduction in the fed cattle price forecast. Prices for 2024 were trimmed by $3/cwt and USDA dropped its forecast for 2025 annual average prices by $5/cwt from $191/cwt last month to $186 this month. The supply and deman...
Oilseed Highlights: WASDE Affirms a Sideways Market
The Market Today’s USDA WASDE report should drive discussion, but it was mostly neutral. The 20-day moving average has begun to rise and November soybeans hit 1031 less than a week ago, lending hope for bulls that it can break 1050/bushel resistance. But the stocks-to-use ratio remains at...
Market Commentary: Calm Before the WASDE Storm; Drought Concerns Support Wheat, Soybeans
The CBOT was mostly higher on Wednesday as traders continued adjusting positions and preparing for the upcoming September WASDE report. Wheat was the upside leader – though trading volume was suspiciously low – as concerns intensify about drought in the U.S. Plains, the Black Sea, a...
Agricultural Trade with Africa
Africa’s population is on a trajectory that could double its size by 2050 to 2.5 billion, or a quarter of the global populace. The West (U.S., EU, Japan) are in a competition with the Axis (China, Russia) for influence over Africa. One way to influence is to actively trade, including in a...
Tariffs are Popular
Tariffs were a hot topic in last night’s debate between the two U.S. presidential candidates. Trump first imposed tariffs, which Harris calls a sales tax, but her Administration keep most of them and she has not ruled out using them again. Trump added to his pro-tariff position by saying...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 2–6 September 2024 The Russian grain market is finally showing bullish sentiments. Adverse weather in Russia this season concerns many analysts, and they are one after another decreasing their forecasts for overall grain production. Exact numbers are hard to figure...
Remembering 9-11
Twenty-three years ago, on September 11, 2001, the U.S. experienced one of the most tragic and influential days in the nation’s history. The events of that day would spark great unity, and later division, as our nation grappled with terrorism’s fallout. The days and weeks immediatel...
Market Commentary: Wheat Rises on Plains Dryness; Corn, Soybeans Sink in Pre-WASDE Trade
Trading at the CBOT was mixed on Tuesday with expectations for the WASDE differing significantly. For corn and soybeans, traders and analysts are all in on the bearish side of things while there is some growing positivity for the wheat markets. That was reflected in Tuesday’s trade with s...
Farm Bill and Prop 12
Yesterday, WPI reported that several commodity organizations were in Washington to lobby on the farm bill. One of those groups was the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). One of the solutions they’re seeking is preemption of California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Q...
DEI and Trade; Barriers Against Real Emitters
DEI and Trade Today was Day 1 of the annual WTO Public Forum. The sessions were started many years ago as the institution's response to critics. Each year nongovernmental organizations with a dislike of international trade show up in Geneva to share their angst and demands for change. The agend...
Meat Trade Holds Up
Hitting the downside of the cattle cycle and having a higher value product based on a strong U.S. dollar has certainly reduced, but the trade has held up relatively well over the past year. U.S. beef imports have trended higher, with an especially large boost from Brazil back in January. But No...
Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa Regional Analysis
Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA/AFRICA – MEA REGION Egypt’s trade deficit in June dropped by 5.1 percent to $2.87 billion – in dollar terms wheat imports were down by 21.5 percent while corn imports saw a reduction of 28.6 percent. Total for all imports...
Market Commentary: CBOT Prepares for September WASDE
The CBOT started the week with a mood that was decidedly oriented towards preparing for the September WASDE report. Volume and price action were relatively limited for the day and cattle futures were the surprise bullish leaders. In the grains, corn and soybeans pushed higher with the latter ma...
Draghi versus Strategic Dialogue; Cooking the CVD Books
Draghi versus Strategic Dialogue Mario Draghi issued his long-awaited report on European competitiveness that had been requested by the European Commission. Its content stands in both contrast and conflict with U.S. goals and the Strategic Dialogue just completed on future support for European...
Producer Groups Getting Restless on Farm Bill
The current farm bill – the extended Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – expires in 10 days. With no practical window to pass a bill in 2024, it will need to be extended again. From a practical perspective, that needs to be done before 2025 when dairy programs enter a new marketin...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Weather Recent rains have benefited parts of Argentina, but not all areas received significant precipitation. The highest accumulations occurred in the central-east and southern regions of Buenos Aires Province, with 30–50 mm recorded. However, the provinces of Córdoba, Santa...
European Market Analysis
Regional News The EU is set to receive beneficial rains across its central region this week with some of that precipitation extending out into parts of western and eastern Europe. That will offer some relief from the drought for central Europe, but the north-central and eastern regions wi...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Friday’s CFTC report featured the expected trends in managed money funds’ activity, but the volume of trade and the degree of change in their position was below expectations. Funds covered about 21,000 contracts of their soybean futures short last week (12.5 percent of the prior wee...
Market Commentary: Mixed Signals
There were lots of mixed pressures on the market today, and this week overall. Outside markets were key among them. Trading volume was modest today, except for meal, oil, and livestock. On the week, livestock and soyoil took losses, while fund long positions held up for soymeal. While so...
Jobs Report and How the Fed Will See It
Today’s jobs report was highly anticipated as a key benchmark before the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting later this month and expected to be a factor in the Fed’s decision of whether to cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points or 50 basis points. As it happens, tod...
India’s Ethanol Conundrum and Impact on Global Markets
India is attempting to pursue its climate goals through the expansion of biofuel blending into transportation fuels, but the dynamics of the country’s agricultural systems and protectionist trade policies may stymie these efforts. The USDA recently issued an outlook that calls for India t...
Market Commentary: CBOT Dips as Short Covering Subsides; Livestock Fall on Macro Worries
The CBOT was mostly lower on Thursday as traders took a day to pause and reassess positions and the grain market outlook with just one day of trade left before the weekend. Too, the September WASDE is looming next week and traders are positioning and adjusting expectations in advance of that re...
Livestock Roundup: Cattle and Beef Imports
High cattle and beef prices are supporting imports. First, cattle imports through July are up 22.6 percent compared to last year. Imports from Canada are up 18.1 percent and imports from Mexico have increased 25.2 percent over the same period. This trend of increased imports certai...
Oilseed Highlights: The Rally Has Capped Out
The Market In this holiday shortened trading week, November soybeans are up 23.5 cents (2.35 percent). The rally in prices has caused deliveries to increase against December futures. Futures have been rising but basis levels are weak, raising doubts about real demand. December soymeal is...
Competitor Opportunities (Future of EU Agriculture Part II)
Yesterday, we took an initial and cursory look at the outcome of the EU’s Strategic Dialogue on farm support. Basically, it says move away from area payments and focus resources on small farmers not large operations. Today, we look at it in more detail, the current spin on its outcome ver...
Market Commentary: CBOT Extends Broad-based September Rally
The CBOT was higher once again with wheat, corn, soybeans, and soymeal all scoring new rally highs and bullish technical victories. In wheat in particular, fund managers are working hard to cover shorts as the technical outlook rapidly shifts bullish, which has driven much of this week’s...
Competitiveness versus Social Goals; Food to Energy
Competitiveness versus Social Goals The EU completed a strategic dialogue on the future of the Continent’s agriculture and despite the June elections whittling down the power of the Greens, they have won the debate on farm subsidies. The farmers protesting ahead of this year’s elect...
Pulses Not Pulsing
The International Grains Council (IGC), Rabobank, and others have followed countries and companies moving into the pulses space. It is logical that plant-based proteins like pulses should be an attractive market. However, the compound average growth rate (CAGR) for the larger category is only 2...
Black Sea Regional Analysis
Russian Grain Markets: 26–30 August 2024 Russian grain markets remained relatively stable; however, they are under pressure of a large crop and growing stocks. Even though the 2024 grain crop may be slightly lower than earlier estimates, Russia will have a solid export surplus. Dome...
Market Commentary: CBOT Rallies Sharply on Bullish Technicals; China-Canada Trade War Looms
The CBOT was nearly uniformly higher following the U.S. Labor Day holiday with wheat, corn, and soybeans all scoring strong gains and meaningful bullish technical developments. There wasn’t a major fundamental catalyst for any of the markets, rather the day’s trade seemed to build u...
New Guidelines for Substantiating Meat and Poultry Label Claims
Last week, USDA released an updated guideline for label claims on meat products as they pertain to how livestock is raised. Specifics included are claims related to animal welfare, breed, diet (e.g., grass fed), living conditions or raising practices, negative antibiotic use claims, negative ho...
Business Economics on Ballot; Tariff Doublespeak
Business Economics on Ballot The American economy largely relies on large corporations for generating growth and wealth. That engine is under attack on numerous counts by politicians looking to stoke voter support by creating a scapegoat. Democrats have pledged to raise the corporate tax rate f...
Sugar Price Response
The March 2025 No. 11 sugar contract rebounded last week but it is still down over 20 percent from its high. Analysts started the year expecting sugar prices to rise this year on short supplies. The International Sugar Organization is still warning of a net deficit once global consumption is su...