World Perspectives

Food versus Populism; Food in Perspective; Beauty of the Algorithm; Tariffs as Panacea

Food versus PopulismPresident-elect Donald Trump’s selection of RFK, Jr. to oversee a food system that he wants to remake without chemicals and ultra-processing, or mega farms, or seed oils, is going to be both fun and excruciating to watch. The sheer mass of the food-sector battleship should be understood when considering such a course change. Cynics simplify food costs into corporate greed. Einstein liked making it simple but warned against simpler. There is no elegant solution for what is being suggested. The system is built to have millions of people make daily deliveries of over a trillion calories of safe food at the price points demanded, regardless of geographic location, and in various forms (shelf-stable, refrigerated, frozen...

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Market Commentary: CBOT Mixed as Shutdown End Begins

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Pandorra’s Tariff Box

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Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.32/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Wheat closed at $5.36/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.2725/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $316.9/short ton, down $3.1 f...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

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Agreement to End Government Shutdown Reached in Senate, Ag Highlights

As Matt Herrington wrote yesterday, the 41-day government shutdown appears to be coming to an end. The Senate has taken a major step toward it by passing a package that includes full funding for a year for three appropriations bills, including Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, the Legisla...

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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.

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