It is easier for politicians to embrace a false perception of the past than to work on a policy approach whereby productivity gains and its associated wealth are earned by a broader swath of society. March of the Luddites Big Ag is frequently criticized for using its high efficiency scale to run smaller producers and processors out of business. However, the industry should not feel singled out in this attack on efficiency. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), considered a possible vice presidential running mate to Hillary Clinton, showed her Luddite values this week by complaining that, “The gig economy is simply the next step in a losing effort to build some economic security in a world where all the benefits are floati...
What You Need to Know Today: A third U.S. border crossing (Columbus, New Mexico) has reopened to Mexican cattle imports following nearly two years of restrictions related to New World screwworm. The reopening could gradually improve feeder cattle availability, although more than 60 confi...
Yesterday, the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) released a new report of negotiated cash purchases of cattle under the mandatory price report. The report included Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. The goal of the report was to solve the confidentiality issues e...
Key Takeaways: U.S. soybean crushing began in 1911 and saw its most rapid expansion during the 1930s amid the broader agricultural and technology revolutions of the time. After peaking in the early 2000s, the soybean crushing industry went through a downturn as poor crush margins forced...
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.