USDA lowered its estimates for production, imports and exports of beef, which fits with the narrative of a commodity facing threats all around. Every day there are news headlines popularizing alternatives from plant-based to cellular-grown similar product. Where some in the industry see a threat, others are investing in the alternatives even as they continue to sell the real thing. The alternatives need not be a threat, though. First, there are plenty of consumer-level contradictions. For example, plant-based proteins are being popularized for humans at the same time pet food manufacturers are emphasizing the lack of plants in their protein heavy products, specifically avoiding wheat, corn and soybeans. Second, beef is both the everyday ch...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
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.