GOI's notification of a new ban on the trading of cattle for slaughter is impacting a number of sectors in addition to farmers' income. There has been opposition in several states, and one particular action has stalled the rule's implementation. Mustard Seed and Oil Prices Near Two-Year Lows Rapeseed-mustard is one of the main rabi oilseed crops. With higher production of 7.977 MMT in the 2016/17 crop year following 6.797 MMT in 2015/16, the prices have fallen to near a two-year low. At the start of the season on 1 April 2017, they were at a low of $615/MT against $672/MT on 3 April 2016. As the supplies grew, prices continued to fall and were below the 2015 level by the end of April. On 2 June 2017, the spot mustard seed price is $570/MT...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
Key Takeaways: Texas illustrates the assumptions underlying the 2025 FMMO reform; Idaho exposes their limitations. The Southwest order blend (roughly 27 percent Class I, 32 percent Class III and 31 percent Class IV) exposes Texas producers to every lever USDA adjusted, with a near-neutral proj...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.