There are a lot of policies and political factors weighing in on the 2012 Farm Bill. These include spending levels for the nutrition programs, the structure and costs of the risk management programs, how Southern commodities are to be treated, payment limits, the upcoming sequestration in January 2013 and whether either party really wants to focus a vote on some tough decisions (i.e. Republicans not wanting to choose between farm programs and Tea Party pressure to cut spending; Democrats not wanting to choose between nutrition programs and farm programs). But now there is a new factor: the weather. Drought and heat are quickly becoming more important than a long-term farm bill.On Friday, Senators Max Baucus (D-Montana), Kent Conrad (D-Nor...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.