According to the FAO agricultural trade index, Africa has experienced the relatively largest jump in the past decade, followed by North and South America. Yet the share of global GDP for both Africa and South America remains low. Despite the boom in agricultural exports where it is now dominating traditional exports out of North America, South American countries have lost ground when it comes to fighting poverty. The share of the population living on $5.50/day has increased in most South American countries, including agricultural powerhouse Brazil. The share of the population at this low threshold unsurprisingly hit 90 percent in Venezuela, but it has also jumped in ag export powerhouse Argentina, rising from 4 percent in 2012 to 36 percent...
Key Takeaways: On Friday afternoon, President Trump announced that Russia will “immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel” to the United States. The deal, typical of this administration, is light on details but promises an additional 500,000 tons in November and 1 m...
The USDA has lowered its 2026 red meat production forecasts slightly while forecasting a slight increase in broiler production. Beef is now projected at 24.802 billion pounds, 75 million pounds less than in September. Cow slaughter is expected to be up; however, this will be offset by lower ste...
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.