There are both mandatory and several politically-motivated high priority items. Obviously, all of these issues have implications for the 2014 mid-term elections, and that does not make for an easy legislative session.Congress is facing its first deadline of the New Year, 15 January, which is when the current funding for the federal government expires. Congressional negotiators are working on a new continuing resolution (CR) that will provide $1.012 trillion in funding through the end of the fiscal year, 30 September. Reportedly, there are about three dozen items left to finalize before a deal is struck among the negotiators. It will then have to be unveiled for a vote in both Houses.After the CR, it will be two weeks before the debt c...
Key Takeaways: Soyoil futures have been trading at the highest levels since 2022. Higher crude oil prices have allowed biofuels to be more cost-competitive with fossil fuels. Recent U.S. biofuel policy, including 45Z, has been favorable toward soyoil as a feedstock. California will be limiting...
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.