JBS is back in the news this week as the company made two announcements; first, that it would be adding 300,000 head of capacity at its Omaha and Grand Island plants and second, that it would be increasing wages. The latter reflects the larger issue right now with beef slaughter – capacity can be expanded, but labor is short to run at even the current capacity. Monday’s total kill was 115,000 head, shorts of what is needed to catch up with cattle supplies, but that comes after Saturday’s unusually large run of 98,000 head trying to catch up after the impact of the cyber-attack disruption and short week after the Memorial Day holiday. This has become a routine of Monday’s being slow due to labor absences after Saturd...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.