Industrial Policy is Back At Davos, USTR Kathrine Tai pitched her “worker-centric” trade policy while other American representatives defended new EV subsidies. Europe made its pitch for strategic autonomy and is now working on its own new subsidy plans. Agricultural subsidies are back in vogue as well as EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski told European Parliament members that efforts to control food inflation was maxed out and perhaps the solution is to increase Common Agricultural policy spending in the 2028-2034 budget period. But it is going to be hard to increase food production and thus lower inflation if the tools of production are removed. Pesticides were already going to be cut and now the European...
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...
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) enters its mandated six-year review on 1 July. The original intent of the review is outlined in Article 34.7, which obligates members to: Provide recommendations and decide on appropriate actions. Extend the USMCA for another 16 years and meet aga...
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.