The results from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministerial in Atlanta will become clear shortly, but the trade-offs are at hand. Sense not Crop Shortage Both sides in the climate change debate use one-off weather events to erroneously assert some implication for future long-term direction. However, this one is particularly stupid if one knows anything about agricultural production. At an event sponsored by the environmental group Ceres, Paul Bakus, president of U.S. corporate affairs at Nestle, lamented that pumpkin production is half the usual output. He went on to say, "I believe this is because of climate change." First, pumpkin production is typically affected by drought somewhere in the world every year, and climate change does...
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.