Fuel Aid Better than Food Aid President Trump says that larger federal receipts from the higher tariffs on goods imported from China will be used to purchase American farm goods that are then shipped abroad to feed the hungry. The precedent for this idea is Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1932, which authorizes the use of customs receipts for such purposes. However, the proposal was met with incredulity, including the circulation of a mock picture with grain silos on the White House lawn. The CME was mixed to lower. A fundamental problem with the plan is its sheer volume. The suggested purchase of $15 billion worth of farm products would swamp international food aid, a system that has been moving away from commodity transfers and tow...
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...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
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...
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.