World Perspectives

Narrow Thinking; Food versus Fuel, Again

Narrow Thinking First COVID and now the war in Ukraine have reinvigorated protectionism and thoughts of self-sufficiency. However, economists studying the global agricultural commodity market say it has worked very well at redistributing food from areas of surplus to areas of deficit. Nonetheless, Mexican Agriculture Secretary Victor Villalobos announced during USDA Secretary Vilsack’s visit that his country wants to become more self-sufficient in grains. Secretary Vilsack should have responded then the U.S. will become more self-sufficient in vehicles, electrical equipment, machinery, tequila, avocadoes and other things that Mexico supplies.  Food versus Fuel, Again The EU’s so-called Easter Package intended to deal wit...

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Regional News  Farmer selling stayed limited across much of Europe last week as low flat prices, year-end cash-flow planning, and holiday-period logistics reduced the appetite to move tonnage. The practical impact was a thinner spot market: bids softened on paper, but physical values in se...

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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.

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