U.S. wheat prices and export sales are moving as expected. Nearing the end of the marketing year, old crop wheat was cheaper and now new crop wheat as harvest is beginning is the better bargain. This is reflected in weekly export sales as new crop commitments are increasing and the declining supply of old crop wheat means that export sales decline. At this juncture, old crop corn remains less expensive than a new crop that is just getting planted and its uncertainty plus cost of carry makes it more precious. Weekly old crop corn sales are still trending slightly upward, reducing the demand for new crop corn purchasing. By contrast, new crop soybeans remain the better bargain, even if not yet physically available. This is because larg...
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.