Transportation Perspectives - 27 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal traded at a record $5.3 million for a transit slot this week as line-up times extend to 17 days. The difficulties transiting the Canal are supporting the PNW/Gulf spread. Tanker freight markets remain elevated as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. I...
Livestock Round Up: Ag Groups Push Back on Trump Beef Plan
As WPI reported on 21 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing imports at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bringing down costs f...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 26 August)
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Gene Editing Offers a New Path for Crop Development
Key Takeaways: Gene editing makes targeted changes to a plant’s existing DNA, while genetic modification can introduce genetic material from another organism to create traits not naturally present in the crop. Gene editing is unlikely to replace genetic modification entirely, as the two...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continued to face delays due to high grain moisture and poor field conditions in some areas. Despite elevated moisture levels, an increasing number of farmers began harvesting as crop losses and lodging emerged. Harvest progress has now surpassed 80 percent b...
President Trump Announces Move on Over Quota Beef Tariffs - Again
On Friday, at 6:57 AM, President Donald Trump announced, via a social media post, a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas—a move aimed at bringing down costs for American consumers. This is the secon...
Transportation Perspectives - 20 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal’s draft restrictions and decreasing rainfall outlook are driving big moves in dry bulk markets this week. Panamax markets are sharply lower as the economics of moving freight across the Canal are deteriorating rapidly, leading to support in Supramax vessels...
Brazil’s Reliance on Imported Fertilizer Is a Potential Weak Link
Key Takeaways: Brazil’s growing role in global agriculture is accompanied by a major vulnerability: the country imports approximately 88 percent of its fertilizer needs. High natural gas costs and development challenges have limited domestic nitrogen and potash production despite Brazil&...
Argentina’s Record Corn Crop Drives Export Growth
Key Takeaways: Argentina is on pace for a record corn crop and record exports in the current marketing year, with abundant supplies likely to keep the country highly competitive in global export markets. Argentina’s record exportable surplus is allowing it to offer highly competitive pri...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina’s corn harvest progress has fallen further behind the normal pace, with the latest estimate showing more than 15 percentage points of delay versus previous years. Excessive grain moisture and poor road conditions continue to limit field access and slow harvest act...
Agricultural Precision Technology: A Look Back and Forward
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
Transportation Perspectives - 13 August
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk freight markets are higher this week as activity in Asia and off the ECSA picks up. President Trump extended the Jones Act waiver for another 90 days this week, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil and other goods between U.S. ports. A container...
Transportation Perspectives - 27 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal traded at a record $5.3 million for a transit slot this week as line-up times extend to 17 days. The difficulties transiting the Canal are supporting the PNW/Gulf spread. Tanker freight markets remain elevated as the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. I...
Livestock Round Up: Ag Groups Push Back on Trump Beef Plan
As WPI reported on 21 August, President Trump has announced a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas, which stand at 26.4 percent, allowing imports at 4.4 cents per kg, a move aimed at bringing down costs f...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 26 August)
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...
Gene Editing Offers a New Path for Crop Development
Key Takeaways: Gene editing makes targeted changes to a plant’s existing DNA, while genetic modification can introduce genetic material from another organism to create traits not naturally present in the crop. Gene editing is unlikely to replace genetic modification entirely, as the two...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina’s corn harvest continued to face delays due to high grain moisture and poor field conditions in some areas. Despite elevated moisture levels, an increasing number of farmers began harvesting as crop losses and lodging emerged. Harvest progress has now surpassed 80 percent b...
President Trump Announces Move on Over Quota Beef Tariffs - Again
On Friday, at 6:57 AM, President Donald Trump announced, via a social media post, a 90-day window during which up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef could be imported outside of tariff-rate quotas—a move aimed at bringing down costs for American consumers. This is the secon...
Transportation Perspectives - 20 August
Key Takeaways: The Panama Canal’s draft restrictions and decreasing rainfall outlook are driving big moves in dry bulk markets this week. Panamax markets are sharply lower as the economics of moving freight across the Canal are deteriorating rapidly, leading to support in Supramax vessels...
Brazil’s Reliance on Imported Fertilizer Is a Potential Weak Link
Key Takeaways: Brazil’s growing role in global agriculture is accompanied by a major vulnerability: the country imports approximately 88 percent of its fertilizer needs. High natural gas costs and development challenges have limited domestic nitrogen and potash production despite Brazil&...
Argentina’s Record Corn Crop Drives Export Growth
Key Takeaways: Argentina is on pace for a record corn crop and record exports in the current marketing year, with abundant supplies likely to keep the country highly competitive in global export markets. Argentina’s record exportable surplus is allowing it to offer highly competitive pri...
Mercosur Regional Analysis
Corn Argentina Argentina’s corn harvest progress has fallen further behind the normal pace, with the latest estimate showing more than 15 percentage points of delay versus previous years. Excessive grain moisture and poor road conditions continue to limit field access and slow harvest act...
Agricultural Precision Technology: A Look Back and Forward
We have described the long-term investment climate in crop and livestock production, using data primarily from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The data provided background on the current investment climate and outlook for agricultural capital formation. Our conclusion was that investment...
Transportation Perspectives - 13 August
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk freight markets are higher this week as activity in Asia and off the ECSA picks up. President Trump extended the Jones Act waiver for another 90 days this week, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport oil and other goods between U.S. ports. A container...