Much of the fate of the 2013 farm bill comes down to the disposition of the House Republican leadership's proposal for food stamps, officially named the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The plan is likely to face a vote on Thursday or Friday of this week. As may be recalled, the House version of the farm bill failed in a vote this summer largely on the SNAP proposals in that measure. The plan cut SNAP by $20.5 billion over 10 years and included a number of substantive reforms, including a work requirement for certain recipients. The opposition to the language came from both sides: several House Democratic members who perceived the cuts to be too deep and several House Republicans who considered the cuts inadequate. The Ho...
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.