There are plenty of worries about credit access and conditions in the agriculture sector. The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing yesterday on the Farm Credit System (FCS) and the current economic climate. As has been widely reported, the Federal Reserve Board released the minutes of the April Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting 18 May, which indicate that the committee has put a potential interest rate hike on the table for its June meeting. The minutes reflected a generally positive outlook for the economy, unchanged since the March meeting. The FOMC reported that financial market conditions continued to improve, equity prices rose further, the U.S. dollar depreciated from its earlier highs this year, and credit spreads d...
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.