China now consumes about half of the world’s pork and has a growing demand into the future that can’t be sustained by small farms that also have an outsized environmental footprint. China Could Emerge as Top Pork Importer As previously reported (see Ag Perspectives, 29 December 2015), the Chinese government started withdrawing licenses in 2014 from about 30 percent of the country’s feed mills in an effort to support greater food safety. Likewise, many midsized hog breeding operations, especially around rivers and other water sources, have been shut down. In both feed manufacturing and livestock feeding, the Chinese government’s 2011-2015 plan explicitly called for decreasing the number of small operations and expanding the “above scale” f...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.