The February rally came at a very good time for U.S. farmers as that is the month the initial (and minimum) price guarantees are established for the federal crop revenue insurance programs. Producers now know exactly what those per acre guarantees will be for their spring-planted crops and will compare them with crop production costs, etc., using these numbers to help make 2018 planting decisions. Amazingly, the numbers for corn and soybeans are almost exactly what they were at this time a year ago. This is also after both U.S. crops had record-breaking production in 2017 with forecasts of much lower prices that year and well into 2018. However, corn and soybean prices simply never got as cheap as many analysts expected. Weather problems i...
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
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.