USDA released its quarterly Hogs and Pigs report last Thursday and before the three-day market holiday. The total 1 March hog and pig inventory was 72.9 million head, 103 percent of March 2017 but only 99 percent of December 2017. This was in line with the pre-report estimates. Producers intend to farrow 3.08 million sows for the March-May quarter or 102 percent of the same quarter last year. Further, they intend to farrow 3.16 million sows for the June-August quarter or 101 percent of a year prior. Indeed, the pig crop was 32.3 million head, 104 percent of the same quarter last year. Moreover, pigs saved per litter were 10.58, which was a record for the December-February quarter and up from 10.43 the previous year. That alone will s...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.