Livestock New Market Reports Reveal Interesting Trends in the Hog Sector The most recent data release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) indicates the reproductive sow inventory rose .5 percent in July to 42.98 million head. That marks three straight months of increases and seemingly a complete reversal of the goal to reach a range of 41 to 41.5 million head in order to stabilize the market. Yet, MARA contends that the current total is just 4.8 percent above the target putting it within the so called green zone of plus or minus 5 percent, which the ministry feels is good enough to maintain a theoretical healthy balance between supply and demand. Meanwhile, import data from China’s Customs Bureau show frozen po...
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.
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...
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...
Let’s return briefly to the fake meat hype cycle, now sitting somewhere in a dusty corner of your mind, not entirely forgotten. What happened to all those products, known as plant-based alternative proteins? They were supposed to be as good as real meat—cheaper, more environmentally...