The Livestock and Meat Export report for September was released today. Pork exports were 545 million pounds in September, up 17 percent over last September. Value was up 6 percent to $563.2 million. Through the first three quarters of the year, exports were up 16 percent of 2019 year-to-date pace in both volume at 5.424 billion pounds and value at $5.69 billion. For muscle cuts alone – no offal – volume was up 22 percent and value up 19 percent. Through September, exports accounted for 29.6 percent of total production and 26.9 percent for muscle cuts; that compares to 26.3 percent and 22.8 percent respectively for 2019. Notably, Mexico maintained its spot as the top destination for muscle cuts after regaining it in Augu...
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
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.