It has been a year since the EU released its plan for halving the use of pesticide and slashing fertilizer use and the debate over it is evolving. The farming lobby has stiffened its spine with the Dutch government backing away from some of its strident demands, and now agriculture members of the European Parliament are calling for cattle to be excluded from the emissions cutting plan. Environmentalists dislike how the war in Ukraine has elevated the concern about food security, which was front and center this week when G-7 agriculture ministers. That group included EU heavy weights Germany, France, and Italy. And while they called for expanding food security in a “sustainable” manner, it calls to question the use of arbi...
Key Takeaways: The EU heatwaves have coincided with key maize crop reproductive timing and featured high nighttime temperatures, a cruel two-sided blow to maize yields. France, much of western Europe, and Hungary have suffered the worst of the heat, with yield potential collapsing. WPI&r...
Key Takeaways: Tensions in the Persian Gulf are further away than ever from being resolved, as the ceasefire has fallen apart completely and the U.S. and Iran are back to trading blows. Ships are still cautiously exiting the Strait of Hormuz but at a much slower rate than just a few week...
Key Takeaways: Cover crops are gaining adoption as farmers seek to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and build more resilient cropping systems. While cover crops do not provide immediate revenue, their long-term benefits include improved nutrient retention, water management, and soil produc...
WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.