World Perspectives

Fake Issue Campaign; Trade Policy Suicide

Fake Issue Campaign During the 2016 campaign, candidate Donald Trump manufactured many fake issues such as illegal immigrants causing a crime wave and NAFTA being the worst deal ever. His mainstream opponents avoided such hyperbole, and Trump won. Now the Democratic Party candidates are all trying the fake issue approach as they espouse a largely false narrative about the nation’s agricultural sector. Like Trump, if they win and pursue some of their campaign promises, it will be more harmful than helpful. At this past weekend’s campaign event in Storm Lake, Iowa, the candidates lamented the concentration in agribusiness and blamed it for farmers not getting a “fair deal.” They want a moratorium on mergers and to br...

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Summary of Futures

May 26 Corn closed at $4.485/bushel, up $0.05 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Wheat closed at $5.915/bushel, up $0.17 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.7075/bushel, up $0.0725 from yesterday's close.  May 26 Soymeal closed at $320.5/short ton, down $0.4 from...

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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.

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