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: U.S. weather is getting more attention this week as conditions vary greatly across the western, central, and eastern corn belts, with the different regions battling dryness and too much rain simultaneously. The ProFarmer Crop Tour began today in Indiana and Nebrask...
Unlike the 2022 fertilizer shock, today’s disruption is rooted less in rerouted trade flows and more in damaged production capacity, raw material constraints and uncertain recovery timelines. That makes this a longer-duration risk for U.S. agricultural producers and retailers who must sec...
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.