U.S. and EU political leaders and trade negotiators begin critical Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) meetings this weekend, and the challenges they face are exemplified by two contradictory issues. Transatlantic Policy Inconsistencies U.S. and EU political leaders and trade negotiators begin critical Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) meetings this weekend, and the challenges they face are exemplified by two contradictory issues: livestock rules of origin and shellfish bivalve food safety. In the rules of origin fight, the U.S. wants the place where the animal was slaughtered to constitute the country of origin. By contrast, the EU insists that the meat be from an animal born, raised and slaughtered...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.