North American Livestock The semi-annual estimate of combined U.S. and Canadian swine and cattle herds was released yesterday. As of 1 January, all cattle and calves in the U.S. and Canada totaled 106 million or 101 percent of year-ago levels. As of December 2017, the inventory of all hogs and pigs in the two countries totaled 87.6 million head, which was 102 percent of the previous year and 106 percent of 2015. The North American swine herd has grown a cumulative 12 percent over the past five years versus 4 percent for the cattle herd. Swine efficiency was a major factor last year. The semi-annual pig crop of 80.8 million head was 102 percent of the same period a year prior and 105 percent of the second half of 2015. Semi-annual farrowin...
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
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.