China Policy Set This week’s speech by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence outlined the comprehensive approach of the Trump administration toward China, which is to mold that country’s behavior in economics, security and social policy in a manner more attractive to America. The goal is to do so with the minimal amount of harm. That China is attempting the same with the United States, including working to make Donald Trump go away, is no surprise. It is collectively called foreign policy. Even some of the farm boys understand the situation. Perhaps nowhere has agriculture been more adversely affected by the U.S.-China trade war than Iowa. That is why it’s significant the state Farm Bureau’s chief economist, Dave Miller,...
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
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.