It can be argued that the most immediate impact on prices for major U.S. agricultural crops and products that the government can cause comes from actions affecting the short-term volume of exports. The form and direction of farm policies and farm programs may have a more important long-term effect, but this occurs only after the lengthy drawn-out process of creating a farm bill every four or five years. There are examples that support our contention. The 1973 embargo stopping soybean exports and the 1980 embargo against grain exports to the Soviet Union both caused prices to decline immediately and severely. The threats last month of a trade war with China, initiated by the Trump administration’s actions, caused a sharp drop in crop...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.