USDA is now predicting beef prices will increase 6.5-7.5 percent in 2015 and another 1.5-2.5 percent in 2016, while poultry and egg prices are also forecast to rise. Consumer Price Index Up for Protein Along with general inflation, food inflation is mitigating in 2015. However, there are several exceptions related to production problems in the protein sector. Beef prices decreased 1 percent from September to October but are still 0.9 percent higher than this time last year. U.S. beef exports have declined, helping place downward pressure on retail beef prices by increasing the supply on the U.S. market. Additionally, favorable pasture conditions in some areas and lower feed prices have allowed producers to feed cattle longer and to hold t...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.