Farm Bill Animal Disease Measures The House of Representatives passed the final conference report on the 2018 Farm Bill yesterday (397-46), which followed the Senate’s passage on Tuesday (87-13). The primary provisions for livestock were the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, and the National Animal Health Vaccine Bank. Those new programs are intended to address the risk of animal disease “affecting the economic interests of the U.S. livestock and related industries, including the maintenance and expansion of export markets.” Funding is set at $120 million for fiscal years 2019-2022. A minimum $20 million of that is reserved for the disease preparedness and response program with the remaining $100...
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.
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...