In 2019/20 Russia will again be the world’s largest wheat exporter. This will be the third year in a row that Russia can claim that title. For those of us who can remember the 1970’s when individual sales of 1 MMT or more of U.S. wheat to the Soviet were not uncommon, this represents quite a change. In hindsight it should not be a total surprise. Russia has about 10 percent of the world’s arable land almost all of which is quite suitable for wheat production. The breakdown of the old and inefficient Soviet collective farm system paved the way for improved agronomic practices, higher quality seeds and private farm ownership and management. Russian farms range in size from small units to huge operations, all of which are fo...
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets remain mixed with Capesize vessels seeing continued pressure from weaker demand while fixtures and rate strength gradually increases towards the smaller vessel classes. Tanker markets are pulling back from their recent highs as tonnage moves out of the Mid...
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...
Key Takeaways: Texas illustrates the assumptions underlying the 2025 FMMO reform; Idaho exposes their limitations. The Southwest order blend (roughly 27 percent Class I, 32 percent Class III and 31 percent Class IV) exposes Texas producers to every lever USDA adjusted, with a near-neutral proj...
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.