The CBOT was weaker overnight with rains for the Corn Belt pressuring the market. The day session, however, saw corn emerge as the upside leader on technical factors and news of severe crop damage following an Iowa windstorm. Corn and the soy complex traded higher and funds are cautiously watching for a reason to jump back on the long side of the market, but wheat futures continue to see selling pressure. Fresh outside news has been light, and the CBOT continues to trade updated weather forecasts and export sales news/rumors. The latest ocean temperature data show conditions in the Pacific Ocean are developing into a La Nina (cooler ocean temperatures across the equatorial Pacific), which would be the second time in as many years. La...
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.