The government shutdown and suspension of USDA/FAS export sales reports occurred at a time when U.S. corn and wheat export prices were becoming increasingly competitive. Some growth in export sales volumes was likely during that period, and traders have been anxious for the reports to resume. However, FAS has announced that the suspended weekly export sales reports will be released on a scattered schedule over several weeks. The report for the week ended 20 December will be out tomorrow (31 January) with those for the weeks ending 27 December and 3 January to be released on 7 February and 14 February, respectively. FAS will then release a report combining the weeks ended 10 January through 14 February on 22 February. Thereafter, the regular...
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.