The tariffs being negotiated in Miami this week on transatlantic trade are the easy part. The likelihood of removing regulatory barriers via the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) slips further and further from possibility each day. Trudeau to Assess TPP Some news headlines proclaim that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement is in trouble following the victory yesterday in Canada of Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau. Environmentalists hope that he will put the kibosh on the Keystone XL pipeline. However, there are many reasons to expect a different policy outcome from the new government.For one, in contrast to the demagogues engaged in U.S. politics, Trudeau made relatively modest criticism of TPP during his s...
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.