Tanzania reports that its first official GM maize field trials, which involve a white drought-resistant variety, began last week and are expected to take about three years for completion and analysis. However, the field trials in Kenya are now headed in a different direction. Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The most recent USDA-FAS report on grains in Egypt doesn’t show any major changes for wheat and corn production, usage or imports. For wheat, local production is steady at about 8.1 MMT with imports set at 11.8 MMT, down 275,000 MT from last year. Meanwhile, total wheat consumption is up about 400,000 MT at 19.6 MMT. There are no imports of U.S. wheat and corn forecast for 2016/17, although current U.S. export prices...
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets remain mixed with Capesize vessels seeing continued pressure from weaker demand while fixtures and rate strength gradually increases towards the smaller vessel classes. Tanker markets are pulling back from their recent highs as tonnage moves out of the Mid...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
Key Takeaways: Texas illustrates the assumptions underlying the 2025 FMMO reform; Idaho exposes their limitations. The Southwest order blend (roughly 27 percent Class I, 32 percent Class III and 31 percent Class IV) exposes Texas producers to every lever USDA adjusted, with a near-neutral proj...
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.