Environment for Legislation Earlier this year so many in the U.S. Congress deemed passing permanent normal trading relations (PNTR) with Russia to be such a lightening rod that there were doubts it could be passed even if it included a tough human rights provision. The House today voted overwhelmingly (365-43) to pass the bill and it is expected to move easily through the Senate. Russia is blustering that the so-called "Majinsky provision" will bring serious consequences, but no one in the U.S. Congress appears concerned.Meanwhile, there is talk of adding a miscellaneous tariff bill to the so-called "grand bargain" intended to avoid the fiscal cliff at the end of the year. Already the farm bill is a possible add-on and, as in most "must-...
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
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.