The recent sharp declines in global soybean prices may be good news for the world's soybean processors, food manufacturers and animal feeders after years of very high prices. However, this turn has U.S. farmers almost in shock and most likely South American farmers as well. Sizable Soy Export Sales Last Week Today's USDA export sales report indicated U.S. exporters made sizable sales of soybeans and soymeal last week. Net soybean sales for shipment in 2014/15 totaled 869,100 MT. In addition, there was a sale of 21,500 MT to Thailand for shipment in 2015/16. The main buyers for shipment in the current marketing year were China (730,800 MT), the Netherlands (141,500 MT), Taiwan (69,400 MT), Mexico (43,900 MT), Japan (35,000 MT) and Indonesi...
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.