While India’s gross domestic product (GDP) was at a high of 7.3 percent in the second quarter, it is likely to be negatively impacted in the third and fourth quarters. Vegetable prices have crashed, and small trades are out of business as recent government action continues to have a ripple affect. Poultry Prices Drop as Discretionary Spending Hit The Modi government’s demonetization of the domestic currency has strongly impacted local poultry farmers. The live chicken prices in Malegaon, Maharashtra dropped from $1.12/kg to a record low $0.554/kg, a 50.89 percent decrease. Farmers are unable to sell any chicken as consumers are conserving their cash for regular home expenses rather than using it for discretionary spending such as dining o...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
Key Takeaways: Texas illustrates the assumptions underlying the 2025 FMMO reform; Idaho exposes their limitations. The Southwest order blend (roughly 27 percent Class I, 32 percent Class III and 31 percent Class IV) exposes Texas producers to every lever USDA adjusted, with a near-neutral proj...
Inflation is back in the driver’s seat, and agriculture is getting pulled in two directions. A stronger dollar is pressuring grains despite fresh Chinese buying, while renewed Middle East attacks lift crude oil. Higher energy prices can support commodities, but they also raise expenses an...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.