While U.S. agriculture groups push for passage of the TPP, the longer-term stakes for restoring the Japanese economy, a major market for U.S. agricultural exports, may also ride on its successful implementation.Having been burdened by slow growth and ultra-low inflation, Japan’s economy is now in deflation. Consumer prices in March were lower than a year ago, and real gross domestic product (GDP) is declining. Government debt exceeds 200 percent of GDP, and the deficit is about 7 percent of it. This follows slightly more than three years of Abenomics, the plan implemented by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It called for a three-tiered approach to the economy, which included easy monetary policy, fiscal stimulus, and structural reforms to the lab...
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.