Zero Sum Technology The center-right European People’s Party is undermining codification of the Green Deal’s goal of halving pesticide usage. One EU official is quoted saying that if pesticides are not banned then there should be no adoption of new genomic techniques. Why should there be NGT’s if there are still pesticides? What would be the added value of NGT’s? This ignores the fact that NGT’s eventually substitute for presumably more harmful pesticides. Glyphosate-tolerant crops have increased the use of that specific herbicide, but enabled the elimination of much more toxic herbicides and enables no-till farming – a net gain. Fungicides are failing to stop the decline of the Cavendish banana but now...
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.