The meeting between U.S. and Chinese trade officials in Beijing concluded earlier than expected today and is scheduled to resume in Washington next week. This early adjournment could be read as either a good or a bad sign. Markets took it as a good sign, especially when the financial press reported that the U.S. has softened one of its key demands that the Chinese government stop cyberthreats against U.S. companies. However, when it comes to the U.S.-Chinese situation, markets have learned not to trade on good signs. Larry Kudlow, the Trump administration’s economic advisor, reportedly said that the administration will come up with another aid package of $12 billion for farmers if they continue to suffer economic damage from trade di...
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.