Transportation Perspectives - 23 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
Market Commentary: Plenty of Risk, Not Enough Conviction
Key Market Insights Markets aren’t trading fundamentals right now—they’re pricing risk. The Middle East remains the center of gravity, and the latest developments point to a situation that is not escalating—but not resolving either. That’s a difficult environment...
Functional Dysfunction; Out of the Frying Pan
Functional Dysfunction Europe has contended that Donald Trump’s attempt to address the decades-long harm caused by Iran’s theocratic regime is “not our war.” The Continent is in an expensive energy crisis because of the Iran war, but moral angst is the only respons...
Summary of Futures
May 26 Corn closed at $4.5425/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.07/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close. May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.645/bushel, down $0.1 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $316.3/short ton, down $4.9 fr...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 April)
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Summary of Futures
May 26 Corn closed at $4.5375/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.1275/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close. May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.745/bushel, up $0.0875 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $321.2/short ton, up $0 from...
Market Commentary: Grains Rally on Weather, Biofuel Demand Prospects
For much of the period since the U.S.–Iran war started, commodity markets have been buoyed by macroeconomic “risk on” buying fueled by the geopolitical risk and crude oil’s rally. Recently, the impact of this risk and crude oil on the ag markets has faded, leaving crop f...
Farm Bill Amendments
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) has been working with Republican leadership to build momentum for a farm bill floor vote, likely expected the week of 27 April, but that depends on other must-pass legislative priorities. The House Rules Committee meets...
Livestock Industry Margins
Beef packer margins deteriorated further, falling to -$129/head last week, down $38 from the prior week as a continued seasonal softening in the Choice cutout pressured returns. The cutout declined to $382/cwt, extending its post–Easter pullback, while fed cattle prices held near $248/cwt...
Market Commentary: SOH Confusion Persists, but Ags Focus on Weather, Exports
The situation in the Persian Gulf remains as volatile as ever since it started on 28 February with a supposed weekend peace agreement dissolving into the U.S. Navy firing upon an Iranian vessel. The vessel was trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and reportedly did not heed commands to h...
Summary of Futures
May 26 Corn closed at $4.52/bushel, up $0.0325 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.06/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close. May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.6575/bushel, down $0.015 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $321.2/short ton, down $6 from...
Aid versus Trade; Idealism versus Competition; AI and Ag; Untethered Presidency
Aid versus Trade Development assistance has a long and unsatisfying history. The causes of poverty were long ago identified as poor governance and the lack of rule of law. But the UN could not criticize the national leaders that form its membership, and so for decades development assistance has...
Transportation Perspectives - 23 April
WPI has officially launched Transportation Perspectives as a standalone weekly report separate from our Ag Perspectives articles and analysis. Current Ag Perspectives subscribers will have gratis access to the report through 16 April 2026. Please email us or subscr...
Market Commentary: Plenty of Risk, Not Enough Conviction
Key Market Insights Markets aren’t trading fundamentals right now—they’re pricing risk. The Middle East remains the center of gravity, and the latest developments point to a situation that is not escalating—but not resolving either. That’s a difficult environment...
Functional Dysfunction; Out of the Frying Pan
Functional Dysfunction Europe has contended that Donald Trump’s attempt to address the decades-long harm caused by Iran’s theocratic regime is “not our war.” The Continent is in an expensive energy crisis because of the Iran war, but moral angst is the only respons...
Summary of Futures
May 26 Corn closed at $4.5425/bushel, up $0.005 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.07/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close. May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.645/bushel, down $0.1 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $316.3/short ton, down $4.9 fr...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 22 April)
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Summary of Futures
May 26 Corn closed at $4.5375/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.1275/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close. May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.745/bushel, up $0.0875 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $321.2/short ton, up $0 from...
Market Commentary: Grains Rally on Weather, Biofuel Demand Prospects
For much of the period since the U.S.–Iran war started, commodity markets have been buoyed by macroeconomic “risk on” buying fueled by the geopolitical risk and crude oil’s rally. Recently, the impact of this risk and crude oil on the ag markets has faded, leaving crop f...
Farm Bill Amendments
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) has been working with Republican leadership to build momentum for a farm bill floor vote, likely expected the week of 27 April, but that depends on other must-pass legislative priorities. The House Rules Committee meets...
Livestock Industry Margins
Beef packer margins deteriorated further, falling to -$129/head last week, down $38 from the prior week as a continued seasonal softening in the Choice cutout pressured returns. The cutout declined to $382/cwt, extending its post–Easter pullback, while fed cattle prices held near $248/cwt...
Market Commentary: SOH Confusion Persists, but Ags Focus on Weather, Exports
The situation in the Persian Gulf remains as volatile as ever since it started on 28 February with a supposed weekend peace agreement dissolving into the U.S. Navy firing upon an Iranian vessel. The vessel was trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and reportedly did not heed commands to h...
Summary of Futures
May 26 Corn closed at $4.52/bushel, up $0.0325 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Wheat closed at $6.06/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close. May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.6575/bushel, down $0.015 from yesterday's close. Jul 26 Soymeal closed at $321.2/short ton, down $6 from...
Aid versus Trade; Idealism versus Competition; AI and Ag; Untethered Presidency
Aid versus Trade Development assistance has a long and unsatisfying history. The causes of poverty were long ago identified as poor governance and the lack of rule of law. But the UN could not criticize the national leaders that form its membership, and so for decades development assistance has...