The messaging has been all to assuaging with White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow and the President himself saying things are going very well. Both equities and commodities are now expecting some interim deal to keep the party going. Now to put a governor on all is the President’s external advisor on China matters, Michael Pillsbury, who says Mr. Trump is ready to escalate the trade war if a deal is not agreed to soon. Really? The 2020 election seems to loom larger than Beijing’s concerns of the economy and Hong Kong. Ether way, Robert Manning at the Atlantic Council is correct in that Washington erroneously wants to change everything about China all at once. Its trade and economic practices, technology goals, geopol...
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.