Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The latest FAO report on Syria forecasts an increase in the 2019 wheat crop by more than 80 percent to 2.2 MMT while barley does even better, increasing by 400 percent to 2.0 MMT. The planted area for grains was greatly increased in 2019 because of much better rainfall. However, the FAO report points out that wheat production is still well below pre-2011 levels when wheat harvest was at 4.0 MMT. Current barley production is higher than pre-2011 levels and much higher than the five-year average. The FAO estimates that total grain imports for 2019/20 will be at about 2.7 MMT, very close to the five-year average. The international grain industry is looking forward to the results of the Sau...
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.