Trade War Language Us versus them, me (America First) and we. Donald Trump called the EU a foe this past weekend. He says he meant it in terms of competitors like the battle for market share between Airbus and Boeing. But the EU is not America’s “foe,” and the WTO is not an assault on national sovereignty. He would do far better to focus language on correcting for fairness and equity than on divisive kinetic terms. The longer-term problem with his antagonisms is the bitterness left behind, whereby even trading terms based on zero tariffs cannot help sell products from a country with a sullied national brand. Trade War Economic Impacts Agricultural commodity prices are certainly being hurt by the trade war. The K...
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.