Battle over Meat COVID-related restrictions have increased meal consumption at home, and it is reported that per capita meat consumption has concurrently increased. Meanwhile, opponents of animal agriculture are expressing their dismay that the food industry has failed to adopt animal welfare practices that were pledged years ago. A report by World Animal Protection says only two out of the 56 companies pledging to adopt group housing for gestating pigs have done so; the Humane Society says most companies have ignored their pledges to enhanced animal welfare as defined by animal rights groups. The reasons include not only the costs but evidence of worse animal welfare outcomes from some of the prescribed changes. Meanwhile, seven st...
What You Need to Know Today: President Trump claimed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was over, as both sides accused one another of violating the terms of the agreement. Commercial vessels are increasingly steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz as security risks escalate following Iran...
Key Takeaways: The CME Group is launching new 90 percent Lean Beef and 50 percent Lean Beef futures and options contracts in July. There are five key factors that must be present in physical markets and futures contract specifications for futures contracts to become successful. The two l...
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.