Under the seemingly endless barrage of bearish inputs and analysis, grain and soy prices have basically been headed downhill since last July. In this market environment, it should not be surprising that noncommercials, primarily funds, responded by establishing large short positions.How many words have been written during the last six months to describe the “extreme” fundamental bearishness in which grain and soy complex markets (cash and futures) are mired? It is a theme that has dominated market analysis commentary from all sources, virtually to the exclusion of anything else. The litany of details has been endlessly described: expanded planted area; favorable weather; very large world grain and soybean production for three consecutive ye...
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.
What You Need to Know Today: A third U.S. border crossing (Columbus, New Mexico) has reopened to Mexican cattle imports following nearly two years of restrictions related to New World screwworm. The reopening could gradually improve feeder cattle availability, although more than 60 confi...
Yesterday, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a new report of negotiated cash purchases of cattle under the mandatory price report. The report included Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. The goal of the report was to solve the confidentiality issues e...
Key Takeaways: U.S. soybean crushing began in 1911 and saw its most rapid expansion during the 1930s amid the broader agricultural and technology revolutions of the time. After peaking in the early 2000s, the soybean crushing industry went through a downturn as poor crush margins forced...