Corn and soybeans closed lower overnight and danced that way this morning but once again could not resist the pull of wheat higher. The wheat market doubled down on yesterday’s weather premium mood as the Southern Plains remain overly wet. The Fed walked back some of its previous alarm bells, boosting outside markets at least temporarily. The war in the Middle East provided additional support, though it doesn’t change the fundamentals very much. And the fundamentals are not bullish. While markets take a break tomorrow for the Juneteenth holiday, preparations will soon begin ahead of first notice for July contracts, and the pivotally important USDA 30 June Acreage and Grain Stocks reports. Because of tomorrow’s...
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.