The economic impact on agriculture from the global coronavirus pandemic is still unknown but it cannot be good. Some speculate that recovery from a policy imposed economic coma should be quicker than, for example, the 2008/09 Great Recession involving financial sector structural failure. Others caution that it depends on how long policymakers suppress activity, whether there is a rebound due to premature reopening, or the disease becomes seasonal. Recently, some economists described a “swish” shaped economic recovery instead of a “V” shaped one. The Great Recession may be an imperfect proxy, but it is the most recent example of a large adverse economic event. One thing that is clear is that the annual growth i...
What You Need to Know Today: President Trump claimed the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran was over, as both sides accused one another of violating the terms of the agreement. Commercial vessels are increasingly steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz as security risks escalate following Iran...
Key Takeaways: The CME Group is launching new 90 percent Lean Beef and 50 percent Lean Beef futures and options contracts in July. There are five key factors that must be present in physical markets and futures contract specifications for futures contracts to become successful. The two l...
Russian Grain Markets: 29 June-3 July 2026 The new marketing season has officially begun in Russia, although bearish sentiment has been concentrated in the southern regions closest to the Black Sea ports, where export demand has been weakest. Delays in grain deliveries to inland elevators have...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.