GOOD MORNING, In terms of political news, all remains quiet on trade negotiations but after the close yesterday, House Speaker Pelosi said the US was on track to sign the USMCA by the end of the year. There was talk of China agreeing to purchase as much as $1 bln dollars worth of US chicken parts, offsetting a general tone of disappointment that they are balking at purchasing a basket of Ag goods. The Dec 15 tariff looms large and would be disappointing to find them enacted. China still wants to reduce tariffs on their goods exported to the US. Lack of clarity on a trade deal and a neutral to bearish bean Nov WASDE still seems to have the market in a buy corn/sell bean trade, but new bulls have been testing the wa...
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.