World Perspectives
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

What Is Wrong With Being Big?

Farming is like any other business that produces and sells goods and services. Its profitability depends on maximizing productivity, efficiency and economies of scale.We grew up in eastern South Dakota a long time ago when agriculture was not just the leading industry in the area, it was the only industry. The town we lived in was so big that it had two country grain elevators. There was an additional elevator in a tiny town about eight miles to the west and one in another very tiny town about 12 miles east. Within a 50-mile radius of where we lived there were at least 20 country elevators. The area was served by two rail lines. An east/west line ran through our town as well as a north/south line. Farms in our county probably averaged less...

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 25 November)

Update for 1 April 2024: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...

Brooke Rollins: New Ag Secretary Pick

During the Presidential campaign, one topic on which Donad Trump was introspective was on his staff and cabinet appointments. He mentioned more than once on the campaign trail that getting the “right people” in jobs was one area in which he would focus the second time around. Typically Trump me...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 24 Corn closed at $4.2475/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.5575/bushel, down $0.09 from yesterday's close. Jan 25 Soybeans closed at $9.8575/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Jan 25 Soymeal closed at $295.9/short ton, up $4.4 fro...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 25 November)

Update for 1 April 2024: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where ob...

Brooke Rollins: New Ag Secretary Pick

During the Presidential campaign, one topic on which Donad Trump was introspective was on his staff and cabinet appointments. He mentioned more than once on the campaign trail that getting the “right people” in jobs was one area in which he would focus the second time around. Typically Trump me...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 24 Corn closed at $4.2475/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close. Mar 25 Wheat closed at $5.5575/bushel, down $0.09 from yesterday's close. Jan 25 Soybeans closed at $9.8575/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close. Jan 25 Soymeal closed at $295.9/short ton, up $4.4 fro...

feed-grains

Not an Orphan Crop

Sorghum marketers often characterize their commodity as an ancient grain that is drought tolerant. They deflect comments that it is an orphan crop, grown locally for local consumption. They may agree it is under-utilized. In fact, a slightly higher share (16%) of world sorghum production is exp...

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From WPI Consulting

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.

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