World Perspectives

U.S. Food Aid Status

The Trump Administration’s placement of the U.S. Agency for International Development on ice has sparked a firestorm in Washington. Critics of the agency point to an NGO industrial complex that works contrary to some American policy goals and diverts money from needy Americans. Supporters say the agency saves lives and counters the influence of competitor nations like China. A headline in today’s Washington Post says, “Gutting USAID threatens billions of dollars for U.S. farms and businesses.” It says hundreds of tons of wheat is currently stranded in Houston. U.S. food aid was supposed to be exempt from aid stoppage but let’s put this all in some context. The U.S. is the world’s largest aid donor. No oth...

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Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for March 14-20, 2025.   Wheat: Net sales of 100,300 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025 were down noticeably from the previous week and down 65 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 428,700 MT were down 9 percent from the previous week, but...

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Summary of Futures

May 25 Corn closed at $4.5/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Wheat closed at $5.32/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soybeans closed at $10.1675/bushel, up $0.1575 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soymeal closed at $294.5/short ton, up $0.9 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Speculating About Monday

Futures traded bearishly mixed. The start of the trade war, the possible hiatus in the Ukraine war, static weather conditions, and major USDA reports to be issued on Monday all keep traders in a cautious position.  Today’s USDA Export Sales report covering last week’s activity...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for March 14-20, 2025.   Wheat: Net sales of 100,300 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025 were down noticeably from the previous week and down 65 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 428,700 MT were down 9 percent from the previous week, but...

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Summary of Futures

May 25 Corn closed at $4.5/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Wheat closed at $5.32/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soybeans closed at $10.1675/bushel, up $0.1575 from yesterday's close.  May 25 Soymeal closed at $294.5/short ton, up $0.9 fr...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Speculating About Monday

Futures traded bearishly mixed. The start of the trade war, the possible hiatus in the Ukraine war, static weather conditions, and major USDA reports to be issued on Monday all keep traders in a cautious position.  Today’s USDA Export Sales report covering last week’s activity...

livestock

Livestock Roundup: Hogs and Pigs Report

USDA released its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report today. The inventory of all hogs and pigs on 1 March was 74.5 million head. This was down slightly from 1 March 2024 and down 1 percent from 1 December.   Breeding inventory, at 5.98 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, and...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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