Even though USDA has estimated that 2015/16 ending corn stocks will be lower than what is predicted for 2014/15, not much imagination is required to envision circumstances that result in a larger carryout.Planting of the 2015 U.S. corn crop is essentially complete. The question of how much land has actually been planted will be debated until USDA releases its final acreage survey results on 30 June. Its initial planting intentions as of 1 March showed that farmers were planning to sow 89.2 million acres of corn, 1.4 million fewer acres than last year's final number. Many analysts and traders were surprised that the planting intentions were so high. During late winter, corn prices had fallen relatively faster than those for soybeans. The pri...
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
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.