As we reported on 15 March, time is marching toward the sequester on 1 March, unless Congress delays it (again.) The sequester would cut $85 billion from the baseline budget in an across-the-board manner from Defense spending and non-defense spending, though several categories of social programs (like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are exempt.As the deadline draws nearer, more scary stories are being reported and projected. The first is that the sequester would cut federal meat inspectors. Unlike past government shutdowns, when meat inspectors were kept on the job despite a budget impasse (1995-96), USDA says it has no discretion to keep meat inspectors on the job as critical employees because the sequester demands an acro...
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...
Markets are getting into the Halloween spirit, handing out more tricks than treats. There has been some encouraging news, but it hasn’t been enough to slow the broader slide. Now buyers need to show up with something other than another “Charlie Brown” rock for the bag. Somethi...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.