One of the late changes to the recently passed U.S. tax reform bill created some significant, unintended consequences that gave farmers a huge tax break and cooperatives an incredible advantage over privately-owned grain companies. As it stands today, the situation allows farmers to deduct 20 percent of their total gross sales to a COOPERATIVE from their adjusted gross income for tax purposes. This means if a farmer has $100,000 in sales to the local cooperative, $20,000 can be deducted from his adjusted income. Continuing this example, if the adjusted gross income was $50,000, that would drop to $30,000 because of the sales to a cooperative. For a large farmer with $1,000,000 of sales to a cooperative, his adjusted gross income would be re...
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.