Cold and snow is impacting cattle markets this week; slowing feedlot placements and moving heavier cattle to pasture rather than the feedlot. Feeders’ interest in buying is down given concerns over transportation and receiving, and auction markets are seeing fewer incoming cattle due to weather. This is a change from early winter conditions as temperatures had been mild with little snow. That was positive for backgrounder and stocker cattle to gain some weight, as well as feedlot cattle. This week getting those feeder cattle to finish weights is more difficult with frigid temperatures and cattle having to contend with slogging through snow. The good news is that much of the country which had been experiencing exten...
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.