The responses and repercussions of the COVID-19 spread continue at a breakneck speed, one of the latest being the indefinite shut down of the JBS pork plant in Sioux Falls, Iowa which has a 19,000 head per day slaughter capacity. This comes after a temporary shutdown at the Tyson pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa (10,100 head/day) and the JBS plant in Souderton, Pennsylvania (1,350 head/day). That is about 6 percent (based on 5.3 days of operation) of the January slaughter rates. In Congress, the Senate is in pro forma session and on Thursday last week Republicans proposed adding $250 billion for the small business paycheck protection program, but Democrats wanted to add new funding for hospitals, localities and additional funds for SN...
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
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.