World Perspectives

Damn Imports and “Reform”

Partial Food Safety: The Obama Administration finally issued part of the proposed regulations for implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act approved by Congress over two years ago. The law and accompanying regulations may increase the safety of fresh fruits and vegetables, but they are equally notable for what they do not do. For example, smaller farms and food processors may obtain qualified exemption from the law's requirements, which ought to discourage anyone from buying small and local. And it doesn't change the story for large processors since most of them already perform hazard analysis and execute preventative controls. Data from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that most foodborne illness is caused by poor s...

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Trade Deals Being Worked on With Japan, China, and the EU

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feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mostly a Low Volume, Higher Close Day

It was the lowest trading volume day of the week for grains and soybeans. It started with soyoil the only major contract trading lower, but by mid-session it had been joined by old crop corn. New crop corn joined all three wheats and soybeans with a higher close. Hogs opened lower but then reve...

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Japanese trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa is in D.C. to talk trade. During a two-hour meeting with various officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Akazawa called for a review of recent U.S. tariffs, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said today Japan will not sacrifice its national...

FOB Prices and Freight Rates App (Updated 2 May)

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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.

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