Alcohol production, whether for beverage use or fuel, is an important consumer of grain. Just like taxes, governments tend to impose higher taxes and higher import duties on so-called “sin goods” like alcoholic beverages than on other products. Moreover, like agricultural products, alcoholic beverages are some of the first products facing punitive duties in trade disputes that involve retaliation. The U.S. and EU recently agreed to temporarily suspend the 25 percent duties imposed on each other’s alcoholic beverages related to the Boeing/Airbus dispute but that still leaves 25 percent punitive duties on U.S. made bourbon and Scotch-style whiskies resulting from the tariffs imposed by Washington on steel and aluminum import...
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.
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...