The CBOT opened higher with soybean futures once again pressing towards the key $12.00 level. Weakness in soyoil pulled the market lower, however, and both markets finished in the red for the day. Soymeal was the upside leader in the soy complex while wheat sagged and weighed on corn. Funds were modest net buyers across the board but held limited interest in the grains. The lack of farmer selling in the U.S. or Brazil is helping markets continue to grind higher. The U.S. Census Bureau released its monthly Advanced Retail Trade report today, which showed a 1.1 percent decline in U.S. retail spending in November. The decrease was the second in the past seven months and points to a potentially weaker U.S. economy. Notably, grocery store...
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
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.