Probably the most significant news from today's announcement is that the EPA has recalculated its assessment of carryover Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from its May proposal.The U.S. EPA today announced the final Required Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014-16 along with the 2017 proposed volume for biodiesel. The 2014 proposed volumes were originally issued in November 2013. They were then revised and re-issued in May 2015 with the 2015 and 2016 volumes as well as the 2017 biodiesel proposed volume. The EPA sent the final rule (202 pages) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on 1 November for final approval.On 23 November, we predicted that the implied corn ethanol volume would be be...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
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.