New Bird Flu in China A strain of bird flu in China not previously known to infect humans now has infected at least 11 people and resulted in at least four deaths. The 11 cases were confirmed on Sunday, but several people have been ill for several weeks, dating as far back as February. Chinese officials noted that there is no evidence (yet) of the H7N9 virus spreading from human to human. The disease is circulating in Chinese chicken flocks, but it is considered a "low pathogenic" virus for poultry, as many birds do not show symptoms, which is a considerable complication for detection and eradication. There are no cases outside of China.The ominous news is that some researchers believe that the flu is mutating to become more of a threa...
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
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.