Mercedes Benz has proposed to the Indian government that it shift its cars and other vehicles solely to biodiesel as a way to comply with a Supreme Court ruling banning large diesel engines. It is not clear, however, where India is going to obtain the feedstocks to produce enough biodiesel to meet its future needs. Countries with Highest Projected Nominal Growth in Soymeal Demand for 2015/16 The growth rate for soybean demand has far exceeded that for other major commodities in the last 25 years. This has been mostly driven by demand for soymeal needed to produce the animal protein that consumers in developing countries have been increasingly able to afford. If USDA’s forecasts are accurate, soymeal demand will rise another 14.08 MMT or 7...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.