After on-line, remote learning, and shortened and staggered weeks at schools, this fall semester offers some hope to return to a more normal year for dairy. Most schools across the country are open and in-person, though there are school districts where there are quarantines and remote classes, which has the Class I milk demand somewhat spotty. Otherwise, back to school is a seasonal boost for Class I fluid milk. This month started with increased demand across most of the country; likewise, school lunch and nutrition programs are providing more flexibility for school feeding programs – like the ability to offer free meals. School orders are also helping Class III milk use, supporting cheese sales, as restaurants reopen and consumers d...
What You Need to Know Today: The hot, dry weather forecast continues to drive strength in grain futures with corn and soybeans hitting another day of strong gains. Monday’s Crop Progress and Conditions data were in line with market expectations and showed relatively few concerns for the...
Yesterday we wrote about the Q1 GDP numbers and the June employment reports in an article entitled Real GDP for Q1 Relying on AI Buildout, Held Back by Consumer Spending. That article mentioned that consumer spending had become a drag on GDP. Nonetheless, real GDP in Q1 was revised upward to 2...
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.