World Perspectives

Trump Orders Freeze on Federal Grants and Loans, Including Ag Spending

Yesterday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulated a memo that directed federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.” The memo states that “in Fiscal Year 2024, of the nearly $10 trillion that the Federal Government spent, more than $3 trillion was Federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans.”    Further, specifically referenced in the memo are President Trump’s Executive Orders, issued on 20 January, and directs all agencies to identify and review all Federal assistance on a program-by-program basis, as well as supporting activities, to ensure that they are consistent with those orders. ...

Related Articles

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 29 January)

Ocean Freight Comments - 17 January 2025By Matt HerringtonIn the past month since WPI last provided our freight market commentary, dry bulk ocean freight rates have not done much at all. The holiday doldrums left markets to drift sideways/lower with slack cargo demand and little other excitemen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Wheat, Corn Lead CBOT Higher; Cattle Correct Ahead of Inventory Report

The CBOT was mostly higher on Wednesday due to the bullish influences of wheat and corn. The two grains saw support from Black Sea and South American weather impacts, respectively, with production outlooks for both regions falling. That put futures in a bullish mood with funds expanding net lon...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.97/bushel, up $0.1175 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.625/bushel, up $0.1725 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $10.605/bushel, up $0.155 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $309.8/short ton, up $8.2 from y...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 29 January)

Ocean Freight Comments - 17 January 2025By Matt HerringtonIn the past month since WPI last provided our freight market commentary, dry bulk ocean freight rates have not done much at all. The holiday doldrums left markets to drift sideways/lower with slack cargo demand and little other excitemen...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Wheat, Corn Lead CBOT Higher; Cattle Correct Ahead of Inventory Report

The CBOT was mostly higher on Wednesday due to the bullish influences of wheat and corn. The two grains saw support from Black Sea and South American weather impacts, respectively, with production outlooks for both regions falling. That put futures in a bullish mood with funds expanding net lon...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 25 Corn closed at $4.97/bushel, up $0.1175 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.625/bushel, up $0.1725 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soybeans closed at $10.605/bushel, up $0.155 from yesterday's close.  Mar 25 Soymeal closed at $309.8/short ton, up $8.2 from y...

Transatlantic Uncertainty

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says that the Administration is still on track to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico this Saturday, unless they take undefined steps on immigration and drugs, and the President is still thinking about imposing a 10 percent tariff on Chin...

Image
From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up