The discussion is focused on whether there are structural problems in the cattle futures market. At the core is the general issue of high frequency trading (HFT) along with several other critical areas.As previously reported (see Ag Perspectives, 14 January), the Ranchers’ Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) submitted a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee requesting an investigation into “potential antitrust and anti-competitive conduct in the U.S. cattle and beef markets.” Recently, the dominant cattle producer group, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), has joined the discussion focused on whether there are structural problems in the cattle futures market. In their own letter addressed to the CME, NCBA wrote that it had...
What You Need to Know Today: Agricultural commodities were mostly lower on the day, with red-hot soyoil a notable exception. Export sales were a bit underwhelming, particularly for corn with export sales down 52 percent week-over-week. The weakness in ag markets tracked crude oil weakness wit...
With the war in Iran affecting fuel and fertilizer prices, higher tariffs, weak commodity prices, ag labor constraints, and other factors, farm bankruptcies are now at a 6-year high, a signal of growing stress. During the month of April, 62 Chapter 12 bankruptcies were filed, which is a 1...
Food Inflation The Open Markets Institute, which is notably funded by several “anonymous” donors and liberal foundations, obtained a guest editorial in the New York Times in which they blame agribusiness concentration for higher grocery prices. This is their schtick and it is politi...
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.