Brazil Trucker Strike Hits Agriculture Hard By all accounts, the trucker strike in Brazil that lasted for eight days is now ending after the government offered the equivalent of $2.54 billion in concessions to the trucking industry. This included a 12 percent reduction in fuel prices for 60 days as well as lower road tolls and the establishment of a minimum freight charge. Not all unions accepted the deal, and some truckers still have not ended their strike. However, enough have done so to allow for a slow return to normalcy. While the trucker strike has done great damage to the economy, the agricultural sector has suffered the most. The halt to the movement of soybeans and grains to feed mills, processing plants and export terminals resu...
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...
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.