Update for 1 April 2024: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...
During the Presidential campaign, one topic on which Donad Trump was introspective was on his staff and cabinet appointments. He mentioned more than once on the campaign trail that getting the “right people” in jobs was one area in which he would focus the second time around. Typically Trump me...
Sorghum marketers often characterize their commodity as an ancient grain that is drought tolerant. They deflect comments that it is an orphan crop, grown locally for local consumption. They may agree it is under-utilized. In fact, a slightly higher share (16%) of world sorghum production is exp...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.