Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.425/bushel, down $0.055 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.8425/bushel, down $0.1525 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.19/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $325.4/short ton, down $4...
Market Commentary: Corn and Soybean Rallies Fade as Markets Reassess USDA's November Outlook
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. dollar continued to strengthen Thursday as persistent inflation reinforced expectations for additional Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. Higher Treasury yields have helped support the dollar, potentially reducing the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural...
Livestock Roundup: WASDE Forecasts Meat Production Down for 2026
In yesterday’s WASDE, USDA reduced its overall red meat and poultry production forecast for 2026 as declines in beef and broiler output more than offset increases in pork and turkey production. Fourth-quarter beef production was revised downward because of slower fed cattle marketings and...
Transportation Perspectives - 12 November
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk freight markets were stronger this week, but the rally was uneven and due to divergent dynamics across basins and vessel classes. Panamax markets were broadly higher, but Atlantic grain demand was primarily responsible while Asian activity was subdued. That trend...
U.S. Wool Update
Key Takeaways: World prices are strong; U.S. grower data doesn’t show it. Australia's benchmark finished the 2025/26 season 61 percent higher, while the value of the 2025 U.S. clip fell 7 percent. The U.S. clip is coarser than the wool behind the headlines. Only about 7 percent was finer...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.48/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.995/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.3075/bushel, up $0.0275 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $329.7/short ton, up $3.2 from...
Market Commentary: Will Follow-Through Match the Headlines?
Veterans Day offers a moment to pause and recognize the people behind the uniform. To all who have served and the families who have supported them, thank you for your dedication, courage and sacrifice. Markets had plenty of headlines to digest today, and grains offered some encouraging follow-t...
Ethanol and Biodiesel Margin Outlook Amid Falling Energy Markets
Key Takeaways: The recent pullback in crude oil and other energy markets has left many in the ag and biofuels communities wondering what it means for ethanol and biodiesel prices and profit margins. WPI’s research indicates a weak but still significant link between ethanol and crud...
Alabama and Louisiana Request RFS Waivers but Approval Remains Unlikely
Key Takeaways: Alabama and Louisiana have requested partial waivers of 2027 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements, arguing that rising compliance costs are contributing to higher fuel prices and economic hardship. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is encouraging neighboring states to join th...
Congress: Lame Duck Session Kicks Off with Volatile Issues
Congress is back in session for the lame-duck period, which is beginning with several contentious issues, including the farm bill, a federal funding deadline, energy legislation, and impeachment proceedings against Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War. Emblematic of the political uncertainty, the...
Livestock Industry Margins
Beef packer margins improved $86/head last week to $174/head as sharply lower fed cattle prices more than offset weakness in wholesale beef values. Live cattle prices fell $8.30/cwt to $215.43/cwt, while the Choice cutout declined $4.63/cwt to $361.15/cwt. Margins have recovered substantially f...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 11 November)
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”...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.49/bushel, up $0.0975 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9275/bushel, up $0.0475 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.28/bushel, up $0.3975 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $326.5/short ton, up $5.8 from...
Market Commentary: USDA Cuts Corn Yield, Boosts Soybeans; Global Stocks Adequate but Vulnerable
What You Need to Know Today: USDA cut the 2026 corn yield forecast by 1.6 BPA to 179.6, shaving 141 Mbu off the crop. Corn ending stocks were cut by 91 Mbu to a level that pushed the ending stocks-to-use (ESU) ratio to 10.8 percent. Conversely, USDA raised the soybean yield forecast 0.2 BPA to...
Expanding U.S. Soybean Crush Won’t Eliminate the Need for Exports
Key Takeaways: Expanding U.S. soybean crushing capacity is strengthening domestic demand, driven largely by growing soyoil consumption from the renewable diesel and biofuels industries. Despite increased domestic processing, substantial quantities of U.S. soybeans are expected to remain availa...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Vegoils
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 9 November)
Developer's Note 24 August 2026: WPI recently completed an exercise that updated the codebase for this app and solved some of the discrepancies between our five-year average calculation and USDA's. There are a few lingering cases where early (late) starts (finishes) to the crop cycle resu...
Market Commentary: Bears in Control Ahead of WASDE; Cattle Futures Rally as Packer Profits Surge
What You Need to Know Today: Corn and soybean futures were lower to open the week, with funds still in control and in a selling mood. The upcoming WASDE report on Tuesday is also likely to feature larger corn and soybean stocks, which helped put grain futures on the defensive. Wheat futures we...
The Role of Currency Exchange Rates in Agricultural Trade
Key Takeaways: Currency exchange rates influence agricultural export competitiveness and producer profitability, even when underlying commodity prices remain unchanged. A weaker domestic currency allows agricultural exporters to receive more local currency for dollar-denominated sales, potenti...
A Closer, More Complex Look at Inflation
Although inflation has remained elevated since the post-COVID surge, it steadily moderated until the past year. More to the point, today’s inflation looks very different from 2022, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) peaked at 9 percent. During and after the pandemic, the M2 money supply...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.415/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9125/bushel, down $0.08 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.9375/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $2 from y...
Market Commentary: Grain Markets Look to WASDE for Direction
What You Need to Know Today: Market attention is shifting toward Tuesday’s USDA WASDE report, with analysts anticipating a modest reduction in U.S. corn production estimates and an increase in soybean production. The report could provide fresh direction for grain markets as traders reass...
Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts
Key Takeaways: WPI’s forecasts call for physical U.S. soybean crushing margins to weaken over the next four months and average $4.44/bushel by late February, while CBOT futures margins should rise modestly to about $2.40/bushel. A key catalyst for this is the expectation that U.S...
“Lame Duck” and “Farm Bill”: Mutually Exclusive?
The election is over – for the most part. Counting is still underway in some states, including Alaska, where a ranked-choice voting system is in place for the Senate race, and Mississippi, as well as in some House districts. But as of now, Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats,...
Wheat Technology: Drought Resistance and Consumer Acceptance
Look away for a moment, and technology will surprise you in some way that you could not foresee or even imagine. If you are in the wheat business as a farmer, a miller, or a baker, you might know something about hybrid wheat, genetically engineered wheat, and gene-edited wheat. These products h...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Managed money sold a net 235,000 agricultural futures contracts during the week, cutting the aggregate net long 52.8 percent to 210,000 contracts. Funds have reduced their aggregate agricultural net long by 423,000 contracts over the past two weeks, with this week’s selling exceeding the...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4/bushel, down $0.0425 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9925/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.8825/bushel, down $0.14 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $317.2/short ton, down $1.4...
Market Commentary: Equity Market Selloff Weighs on Agricultural Commodities
What You Need to Know Today: U.S. equities declined sharply Thursday, reversing Wednesday’s post-election rally as investors continued selling technology stocks amid concerns that Democratic gains in the midterm elections could slow investment in artificial intelligence and data center d...
Livestock Roundup: Meat State Shake Up on Senate Agriculture Committee
The Senate Agriculture Committee will undergo significant changes in the new Congress beginning in January 2027, including several major shifts in meat-producing states. The Democratic Party’s tsunami swept Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) out of office, and out of the seat once held by...
Milk Pricing with The Calf in the Ledger
What dairy breakeven looks like with and without the beef-on-dairy boom To put a dollar value on that question, this analysis removes the calf check from the USDA ledger and examines how many of the last five years would have reached breakeven without it. Key Takeaways: Milk and other income a...
Transportation Perspectives - 5 November
Key Takeaways: Fresh North Atlantic cargoes lifted Capesize hire even as iron ore voyage assessments eased, giving owners the most leverage on transatlantic business. Australian coal helped turn Panamax rates higher, but a sustained Atlantic recovery will require more grain bookings from the A...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4425/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.985/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.0225/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $318.6/short ton, up $0...
Market Commentary: The Votes Are In. The Market’s Still Deciding.
The US election is over, but the market’s debate is just beginning. A shift in Washington’s balance of power is changing policy expectations, while developments involving Iran and an early decline in the dollar are adding to the uncertainty. Now traders must decide how much of that...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.425/bushel, down $0.055 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.8425/bushel, down $0.1525 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.19/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $325.4/short ton, down $4...
Market Commentary: Corn and Soybean Rallies Fade as Markets Reassess USDA's November Outlook
What You Need to Know Today: The U.S. dollar continued to strengthen Thursday as persistent inflation reinforced expectations for additional Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. Higher Treasury yields have helped support the dollar, potentially reducing the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural...
Livestock Roundup: WASDE Forecasts Meat Production Down for 2026
In yesterday’s WASDE, USDA reduced its overall red meat and poultry production forecast for 2026 as declines in beef and broiler output more than offset increases in pork and turkey production. Fourth-quarter beef production was revised downward because of slower fed cattle marketings and...
Transportation Perspectives - 12 November
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk freight markets were stronger this week, but the rally was uneven and due to divergent dynamics across basins and vessel classes. Panamax markets were broadly higher, but Atlantic grain demand was primarily responsible while Asian activity was subdued. That trend...
U.S. Wool Update
Key Takeaways: World prices are strong; U.S. grower data doesn’t show it. Australia's benchmark finished the 2025/26 season 61 percent higher, while the value of the 2025 U.S. clip fell 7 percent. The U.S. clip is coarser than the wool behind the headlines. Only about 7 percent was finer...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.48/bushel, down $0.01 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.995/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.3075/bushel, up $0.0275 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $329.7/short ton, up $3.2 from...
Market Commentary: Will Follow-Through Match the Headlines?
Veterans Day offers a moment to pause and recognize the people behind the uniform. To all who have served and the families who have supported them, thank you for your dedication, courage and sacrifice. Markets had plenty of headlines to digest today, and grains offered some encouraging follow-t...
Ethanol and Biodiesel Margin Outlook Amid Falling Energy Markets
Key Takeaways: The recent pullback in crude oil and other energy markets has left many in the ag and biofuels communities wondering what it means for ethanol and biodiesel prices and profit margins. WPI’s research indicates a weak but still significant link between ethanol and crud...
Alabama and Louisiana Request RFS Waivers but Approval Remains Unlikely
Key Takeaways: Alabama and Louisiana have requested partial waivers of 2027 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) requirements, arguing that rising compliance costs are contributing to higher fuel prices and economic hardship. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is encouraging neighboring states to join th...
Congress: Lame Duck Session Kicks Off with Volatile Issues
Congress is back in session for the lame-duck period, which is beginning with several contentious issues, including the farm bill, a federal funding deadline, energy legislation, and impeachment proceedings against Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War. Emblematic of the political uncertainty, the...
Livestock Industry Margins
Beef packer margins improved $86/head last week to $174/head as sharply lower fed cattle prices more than offset weakness in wholesale beef values. Live cattle prices fell $8.30/cwt to $215.43/cwt, while the Choice cutout declined $4.63/cwt to $361.15/cwt. Margins have recovered substantially f...
FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 11 November)
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”...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.49/bushel, up $0.0975 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9275/bushel, up $0.0475 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.28/bushel, up $0.3975 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $326.5/short ton, up $5.8 from...
Market Commentary: USDA Cuts Corn Yield, Boosts Soybeans; Global Stocks Adequate but Vulnerable
What You Need to Know Today: USDA cut the 2026 corn yield forecast by 1.6 BPA to 179.6, shaving 141 Mbu off the crop. Corn ending stocks were cut by 91 Mbu to a level that pushed the ending stocks-to-use (ESU) ratio to 10.8 percent. Conversely, USDA raised the soybean yield forecast 0.2 BPA to...
Expanding U.S. Soybean Crush Won’t Eliminate the Need for Exports
Key Takeaways: Expanding U.S. soybean crushing capacity is strengthening domestic demand, driven largely by growing soyoil consumption from the renewable diesel and biofuels industries. Despite increased domestic processing, substantial quantities of U.S. soybeans are expected to remain availa...
AP Quant: WASDE Corn
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Soybeans
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Wheat
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
AP Quant: WASDE Vegoils
WPI offers the following PDF of key supply and demand tables and charts relating to the USDA’s latest WASDE report. This is not an all-inclusive compilation of relevant market factors, only those which we feel are of top priority. WPI will seek to expand the offerings in this report and w...
WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 9 November)
Developer's Note 24 August 2026: WPI recently completed an exercise that updated the codebase for this app and solved some of the discrepancies between our five-year average calculation and USDA's. There are a few lingering cases where early (late) starts (finishes) to the crop cycle resu...
Market Commentary: Bears in Control Ahead of WASDE; Cattle Futures Rally as Packer Profits Surge
What You Need to Know Today: Corn and soybean futures were lower to open the week, with funds still in control and in a selling mood. The upcoming WASDE report on Tuesday is also likely to feature larger corn and soybean stocks, which helped put grain futures on the defensive. Wheat futures we...
The Role of Currency Exchange Rates in Agricultural Trade
Key Takeaways: Currency exchange rates influence agricultural export competitiveness and producer profitability, even when underlying commodity prices remain unchanged. A weaker domestic currency allows agricultural exporters to receive more local currency for dollar-denominated sales, potenti...
A Closer, More Complex Look at Inflation
Although inflation has remained elevated since the post-COVID surge, it steadily moderated until the past year. More to the point, today’s inflation looks very different from 2022, when the Consumer Price Index (CPI) peaked at 9 percent. During and after the pandemic, the M2 money supply...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.415/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9125/bushel, down $0.08 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.9375/bushel, up $0.055 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $319.2/short ton, up $2 from y...
Market Commentary: Grain Markets Look to WASDE for Direction
What You Need to Know Today: Market attention is shifting toward Tuesday’s USDA WASDE report, with analysts anticipating a modest reduction in U.S. corn production estimates and an increase in soybean production. The report could provide fresh direction for grain markets as traders reass...
Global Soybean Crush Margin Forecasts
Key Takeaways: WPI’s forecasts call for physical U.S. soybean crushing margins to weaken over the next four months and average $4.44/bushel by late February, while CBOT futures margins should rise modestly to about $2.40/bushel. A key catalyst for this is the expectation that U.S...
“Lame Duck” and “Farm Bill”: Mutually Exclusive?
The election is over – for the most part. Counting is still underway in some states, including Alaska, where a ranked-choice voting system is in place for the Senate race, and Mississippi, as well as in some House districts. But as of now, Democrats have secured at least 54 Senate seats,...
Wheat Technology: Drought Resistance and Consumer Acceptance
Look away for a moment, and technology will surprise you in some way that you could not foresee or even imagine. If you are in the wheat business as a farmer, a miller, or a baker, you might know something about hybrid wheat, genetically engineered wheat, and gene-edited wheat. These products h...
CFTC COT Report Analysis
Managed money sold a net 235,000 agricultural futures contracts during the week, cutting the aggregate net long 52.8 percent to 210,000 contracts. Funds have reduced their aggregate agricultural net long by 423,000 contracts over the past two weeks, with this week’s selling exceeding the...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4/bushel, down $0.0425 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.9925/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $11.8825/bushel, down $0.14 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $317.2/short ton, down $1.4...
Market Commentary: Equity Market Selloff Weighs on Agricultural Commodities
What You Need to Know Today: U.S. equities declined sharply Thursday, reversing Wednesday’s post-election rally as investors continued selling technology stocks amid concerns that Democratic gains in the midterm elections could slow investment in artificial intelligence and data center d...
Livestock Roundup: Meat State Shake Up on Senate Agriculture Committee
The Senate Agriculture Committee will undergo significant changes in the new Congress beginning in January 2027, including several major shifts in meat-producing states. The Democratic Party’s tsunami swept Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) out of office, and out of the seat once held by...
Milk Pricing with The Calf in the Ledger
What dairy breakeven looks like with and without the beef-on-dairy boom To put a dollar value on that question, this analysis removes the calf check from the USDA ledger and examines how many of the last five years would have reached breakeven without it. Key Takeaways: Milk and other income a...
Transportation Perspectives - 5 November
Key Takeaways: Fresh North Atlantic cargoes lifted Capesize hire even as iron ore voyage assessments eased, giving owners the most leverage on transatlantic business. Australian coal helped turn Panamax rates higher, but a sustained Atlantic recovery will require more grain bookings from the A...
Summary of Futures
Dec 26 Corn closed at $4.4425/bushel, up $0.0175 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Wheat closed at $5.985/bushel, down $0.0125 from yesterday's close. Jan 27 Soybeans closed at $12.0225/bushel, down $0.1175 from yesterday's close. Dec 26 Soymeal closed at $318.6/short ton, up $0...
Market Commentary: The Votes Are In. The Market’s Still Deciding.
The US election is over, but the market’s debate is just beginning. A shift in Washington’s balance of power is changing policy expectations, while developments involving Iran and an early decline in the dollar are adding to the uncertainty. Now traders must decide how much of that...