Global Soy Demand May Take Big Hit from African Swine Fever The widespread outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) is now well known, and it continues unabated in China even though controlling the disease has been made a top priority there. The Chinese government has officially indicated that there have been 110 separate cases in over 20 provinces, but most observers assume the number is much higher. It also admits that the country’s pig and sow herds were down 16.6 percent and 19.1 percent, respectively, in February versus a year earlier. The declines in that month alone were 5.4 percent for pigs and 5 percent for sows, and both herds will no doubt be even lower at the end of March. With a total swine herd of about 440 million, the l...
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.