Monday, 21 January is a U.S. holiday. The markets and World Perspectives, Inc. are closed that day. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published the following day, 22 January. ...
Martin Luther King Day
House Ag Committee Majority Members
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has announced the new Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee (see below). First, though, there was a slight surprise concerning some returning members. For committee assignments, both party caucuses generally designate exclusive or so-cal...
U.S. Corn Ending Supplies Will Be Smaller
As said every year at this time when we take a very preliminary look at the corn outlook for the coming marketing year, it will be all about yield. The U.S. corn farmer has enjoyed four consecutive years of incredibly good yields, but we tend to lose sight of that and automatically plug in anot...
Summary of Futures
Mar 19 Corn closed at $3.8175/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Mar 19 Wheat closed at $5.1775/bushel, up $0 from yesterday's close. Mar 19 Soybeans closed at $9.1675/bushel, up $0.09 from yesterday's close. Mar 19 Soymeal closed at $315.1/short ton, up $2.9 from yest...
House Ag Committee Majority Members
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has announced the new Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee (see below). First, though, there was a slight surprise concerning some returning members. For committee assignments, both party caucuses generally designate exclusive or so-cal...
U.S. Corn Ending Supplies Will Be Smaller
As said every year at this time when we take a very preliminary look at the corn outlook for the coming marketing year, it will be all about yield. The U.S. corn farmer has enjoyed four consecutive years of incredibly good yields, but we tend to lose sight of that and automatically plug in anot...
Summary of Futures
Mar 19 Corn closed at $3.8175/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Mar 19 Wheat closed at $5.1775/bushel, up $0 from yesterday's close. Mar 19 Soybeans closed at $9.1675/bushel, up $0.09 from yesterday's close. Mar 19 Soymeal closed at $315.1/short ton, up $2.9 from yest...
Market Commentary
Markets had some follow-through overnight from yesterday’s good gains. Wheat and soybeans were up 3-4 cents with corn fractionally higher. None of that enthusiasm was present today in either of those markets, though. Meanwhile, soybean futures made a run at double-digit gains before closi...
Trade Policy Wowzas; Weighing Risks; Monopoly Hunters
Trade Policy Wowzas It is a long weekend for the commodity futures market, and policymakers have left a bevy of developments to think about, including the following: China: It is still a mercantilist concept, but China is reportedly offering to ramp up a six-year buying spree of U.S. goods, pur...
Market Commentary
Markets had some follow-through overnight from yesterday’s good gains. Wheat and soybeans were up 3-4 cents with corn fractionally higher. None of that enthusiasm was present today in either of those markets, though. Meanwhile, soybean futures made a run at double-digit gains before closi...
Indian Subcontinent Regional Analysis
Rabi Sowing Down As of 18 January 2019, the total rabi planted area was down 4.8 percent versus 2017/18. While wheat is among the crops affected, pulses and coarse cereals, most especially pearl millet, are down significantly (see table below). The overal oilseed area has been good, however, as...
Market Commentary
Grain and soy prices were mildly firmer overnight, based mostly on forecasts that the adverse South American weather conditions would persist at least through January. Otherwise, inputs were lacking, however, and trading was uninspired. The overnight trade gave no hint of the rally that took of...
Missing Reports; Climate and Cattle; Happy Chicken Wing Day
Cattle on Feed Report is MIA USDA’s Cattle on Feed (COF) report is normally released on the third Friday of each month. The inventory data is for the month it is issued, and the placements and marketing numbers are for the previous month. The January COF report, however, will be missing t...
South American Soybeans and Weather
In these days of the USDA blackout, the soybean market is left to focus on the prospects from U.S. China trade negotiations and South American weather. Of course, this situation would not change much if USDA were back in business as those would remain the key issues, but its final U.S. soybean...