Many of those starting up small and local farms are first-time farmers, but it is a fad that is unlikely to last for economic and labor reasons. NAFTA Reality As NAFTA renegotiation gets underway this week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer complained about the trade surpluses held by Canada and Mexico. He said that he wants a deal that provides more balance and reciprocal trade. The U.S. economy is 19 times larger than Mexico’s and 12 times larger than Canada’s. Americans earn 23 percent more than their Canadian counterparts and 300 percent more than Mexicans. The rules cannot be skewed enough to erase those defining differences. Farming Reality The Global Impact Investing Network claims that 63 percent of its investors are p...
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
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.