This new model will more than double the government’s fiscal cost for premium subsidies, but it is also expected to more than double the amount of crop covered under insurance by bringing down farmers’ premium payments.Over the past two farm bills and with the support of the production agriculture sector, Congress has moved to make crop insurance the primary risk management tool for farmers. The concept of expanding crop insurance is spreading as the government of India (GOI) has just announced plans for an overhaul of its own. A major reform was introduced in 2013 to better coordinate the various crop insurance schemes in India, but government and private sources indicate the program still lacked access to credible data, adoption of techno...
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...
Key Market Insights Geopolitical Limbo: Geopolitical risk remained a key driver across global commodity markets today. President Trump stated that the Iran memorandum of understanding is not yet final and warned that military action could resume if negotiations fail. Both sides continue w...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.