Regional Updates MEDITERRANEAN/MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA Egypt reports that 3.1 MMT of local wheat have been purchased by the government. The targeted purchase level of 3.6 MMT is expected to be reached. Pakistan has removed the ban on the transportation of wheat between provinces and has temporarily lifted the import duty on wheat. The wheat import duty had been a total of 8 percent. The government also says that it will be taking strong actions against wheat and wheat flour hoarders. The removal of the duty is being done both to improve supply and to try to control smuggling. The latest FAO report on Jordan shows grain imports for 2020/21 to be on average at about 2.7 MMT – mainly wheat and barley. Jordan has to import about 97 p...
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 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
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.