Tanzania reports that its first official GM maize field trials, which involve a white drought-resistant variety, began last week and are expected to take about three years for completion and analysis. However, the field trials in Kenya are now headed in a different direction. Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MIDDLE EAST COMMENTS The most recent USDA-FAS report on grains in Egypt doesn’t show any major changes for wheat and corn production, usage or imports. For wheat, local production is steady at about 8.1 MMT with imports set at 11.8 MMT, down 275,000 MT from last year. Meanwhile, total wheat consumption is up about 400,000 MT at 19.6 MMT. There are no imports of U.S. wheat and corn forecast for 2016/17, although current U.S. export prices...
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.