Well, USDA's January 2013 reports lived up to the reputation that the January reports have for being exciting. The increased final production estimates for corn and soybeans were actually the least exciting part of the reports. This was true even though the 55-million-bushel increase in estimated corn production went contrary to the private consensus that USDA would reduce its corn production estimate slightly. The bulk of the reports' excitement came from the 1 December quarterly stocks estimates, with a secondary nod to the unexpectedly low winter plantings. They combined to make the final production estimates seem almost irrelevant.Interestingly, USDA's 1 December quarterly stocks estimates for corn, soybeans and wheat were all lower t...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.