Weather and Crops Most of Argentina's agricultural area received good rain coverage during August-December 2012. In some areas of Pampa Humeda, the core agricultural region, rainfalls were above normal, causing floods that delayed corn and soybean sowing. The map below shows soil moisture levels in the Pampa Humeda region, including the Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Santa Fe provinces. As you can see, some parts of Cordoba and Sante Fe are under water stress. Last week the weather forecast called for normal to good rain coverage over this area, but ultimately nothing happened. We are expecting a hot and dry pattern during the upcoming week, with temperatures around 38-40 degrees Celsius. The previous weeks of dry conditions have nearly deple...
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
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.