It is almost the end of December and it is still raining across much of Argentina. The forecast this week still looks wet. Over the weekend 1-2 more inches of rain fell across Cordoba, Entre Rios and parts of Buenos Aires. It also was extremely hot in some of these same regions, with temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit reported. Needless to say, it has been a very unusual and frustrating season for farmers in Argentina. Because the rains won't stop, corn and soybean plantings as well as the wheat harvest have been stalled.An associate of mine manages a large farming operation in Cordoba and also has interests in other parts of Argentina. He sent me an update of conditions along with his opinions over the weekend. Here are his though...
What You Need to Know Today: Cattle futures extended their sharp selloff Friday as weakening cash cattle prices, deteriorating feedlot profitability, and reduced packer demand continued to weigh on the market. The inability of futures to sustain a rally following last week's bullish Cattle on...
As predicted, the Federal Reserve held rates steady at the last meeting before the midterm elections, likely in part because of the election (see WPI 19 October and 22 September). The decision comes at the tail end of a midterm election cycle that has been marked by the two parties campaigning...
Key Takeaways: WPI’s new EU rapeseed crushing margin models point to weaker processing returns over the next four months due to higher rapeseed procurement costs and weaker product values. Statistical forecasts call for German crushing margins to decline from €181/MT to €...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.