Corn Planting Area to Rise 2 Percent in 2012, Soy Area to Drop 11 Percent A Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) survey and analysis of 2012 planting intentions forecasts that land used for corn planting will rise 2.1 percent this year to 35 million hectares. MoA projects the soybean planting area will decline for the third straight year, sliding 11.2 percent to under 7 million hectares. Meanwhile, the area devoted to wheat planting will be roughly unchanged at 24.2 million hectares.Recent comments from agricultural officials in Heilongjiang, which accounts for 40 percent of total soy output, underscore that persistent rising returns for corn this year are quickening the shift away from soy. In the current crop year, soybean returns per m...
What You Need to Know Today: Cattle futures extended their sharp selloff Friday as weakening cash cattle prices, deteriorating feedlot profitability, and reduced packer demand continued to weigh on the market. The inability of futures to sustain a rally following last week's bullish Cattle on...
As predicted, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at the last meeting before the midterm elections, likely in part because of the election (see WPI 19 October and 22 September). The decision comes at the tail end of a midterm election cycle that has been marked by the two parties campaigning...
Key Takeaways: WPI’s new EU rapeseed crushing margin models point to weaker processing returns over the next four months due to higher rapeseed procurement costs and weaker product values. Statistical forecasts call for German crushing margins to decline from €181/MT to €...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.