Yesterday, 28 November, was Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., a holiday tradition that dates back to the arrival in the New World of a group of settlers seeking to escape religious persecution in England. Known as the Pilgrims, the group arrived in what is now Massachusetts in 1620. The Thanksgiving tradition goes back to a feast held by the Pilgrims along with neighboring native Indians in 1621 to celebrate and give thanks for a successful fall harvest. Even amid the turmoil in 2019, we can find some things for which we can be grateful. Grain markets and the traders that work them struggle to find things for which to be thankful. Prices for grain and soybeans are depressed, volatility is limited, and...
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.