World Perspectives
energy

Ag Demand for Energy

The Energy Information Administration’s energy outlook for this fall and winter factors in agriculture demand. Propane is expected to be down, diesel is expected to be up. Corn crop maturity in the U.S. is on track with the previous five-year average, and harvested grain moisture content is lower than last year, reducing propane use for drying.   In fact, there has not been a big need for drying for most of the past five years, except for last year. A wet crop and a late harvest boosted the drying use demand for propane, competing with livestock/poultry and residential sectors, causing problems for corn growers. Energy costs in corn production last year, driven by propane, were about 19 percent higher than the previous fiv...

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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.

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