Broiler and Feed Demand Outlook Last week’s USDA Chicken and Egg report showed that broiler-type chicks hatched in February were 102.1 percent of last year. Market predictions for March are around 101.5 percent year over year, and expectations are that hatching will continue at that pace through this month. USDA is projecting second quarter 2019 hatching will be 102.3 percent of the same quarter in 2018. The end-of-year slaughter numbers released this week show broiler slaughter in 2018 at 103 percent of 2017 and total live weight slaughter at 101.75 percent with birds averaging 6.26 pounds. WPI estimates feed utilization by broilers in 2018 at 1.431 billion bushels of corn and 15.417 MMT of soymeal. Assuming bird sizes remain where...
What You Need to Know Today: Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured reelection on Sunday, defeating right-wing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro despite trailing in the first round of voting. The surprise victory triggered a sharp selloff in Brazilian financial market...
The 2026 midterm elections are a week from tomorrow, but early voting has been taking place for weeks. At stake is control of Congress, including the House of Representatives, where all 435 seats are contested, and the Senate, where approximately one-third of the seats are up for election. Farm...
Key Takeaways: Total U.S. crop acres (excluding hay) are forecast to expand fractionally this year due to greater oilseed crop and winter wheat plantings. One of the key drivers of this year’s crop outlook is input costs, and crops with a lower cost profile have an advantage in producers...
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.