It is too early to determine whether Argentina will have sufficient 12 percent protein wheat to fulfill the contracts already made. The lack of demand for lower quality wheat is pressuring those prices and giving reasons for exporters to defend prices of the higher quality stocks, resulting in a rapidly growing price spread. Soybeans The sharp basis drop that occurred a few weeks ago spurred significant Chinese buying. The basis decline was driven by the CBOT rally, very good origination in the U.S. and Brazilian exporters’ big long position. Since then, Chinese buyers have been in the market daily. However, recent stability in the CBOT, slowing U.S. farmer selling and a stronger Brazilian real have caused the basis to increase gradually...
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.