The overall economy is ready for a federal funds rate hike, which will be an impact on farm income that is already down with crop prices and debt that is starting to rise again.he Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FMOC) meets tomorrow with much market speculation as to whether the federal funds rate will be increased. Its target rate was raised in December 2015 to 0.25-0.50 percent from 0.00-0.25, which had been in place since 2008. That was the first increase since 2006, and the expectation last December was that the Fed would again raise rates by a similar amount two-four times in 2016. This has not occurred to date, but tomorrow’s meeting is one of three left for the year with the others scheduled for 1-2 November and 13-1...
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.