Failed Rural Strategy Some Democratic Party strategists have reasonably concluded that it is easier to court rural voters than to dissipate their political influence by amending the Constitution to remove the Electoral College. However, their candidates still have a tin ear when it comes to rural America. 2020 presidential contender Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) announced her agriculture policy platform yesterday, and it involves breaking up big agribusinesses and favoring small farms. Much like the current president’s modus operandi (see Government Dis-Org below), it is a plan without any underlying data. She also shares the current president’s protectionism with her goal being to restrict foreign ownership and investment in...
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...
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.