USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack justifiably criticized the U.S. beef industry today for hypocrisy in regards to efforts by some industry groups to stall a USDA designation of Brazilian and Argentine beef as safe for import. Iranian Market Prospects The ink is barely dry on a nuclear agreement with Iran, and marketers are already calculating a bonanza of food sales to the long embargoed country. However, it may be a case of counting chickens before they are hatched. Not only must the deal still be approved, Iran will have to show that it is better than North Korea at keeping its word on such an accord. The removal of sanctions should aid Iranian economic growth and thus potential food demand and imports, but this is one category of product tha...
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
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.