Soybeans in Paraguay Suffering from Dry Weather Paraguay is the third-largest soybean producing nation in South America. It produced about 8.85 MMT of soybeans in 2019, down from a high of 10.333 MMT in 2017. USDA currently is forecasting production in 2020 at 10.2 MMT. However, because of hot, dry weather it appears production will be well below the USDA forecast. Apparently, it is so dry in northern Paraguay that soybeans that have emerged are dying out and dying. In some cases, farmers have had to replant once, and in some case twice, and are still seeing newly emerged soybeans die from a lack of moisture. Forecasts call for no significant rainfall in the near future. For that reason, analysts are already reducing their estimates for t...
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.