World Perspectives

Paying the Bill for the Farm Bill

The final conference report farm bill, which is now on the president’s desk awaiting signature, totals $428 billion for its 2019-2023 authorization period; most references in the media to a $867 billion cost are based on a 10-year baseline for the five-year bill. Because of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (better known as the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act or GRH), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is required to provide a 10-year budget estimate for legislation and assume that the changes made to statutory programs would continue for that period (even though the authorization is only five years). Compared to the original House bill drafted in April, the final conference report adds $1.8 billion in direct...

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Market Commentary: Cattle Hit New Records while Wheat Hits New Lows; Planting in Focus

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Quick Hits

Canadian Elections: Canada is going to the polls today. Earlier in the year, the Liberal Party was out of favor in Canada, but Trump’s talk of the 51st State has changed the dynamics of the election. Canada has six time zones, so the final results will be in late tonight.  SCP Safegu...

livestock

Livestock Industry Margins

The pork industry saw production margins improve last week as strong pork demand lifted prices for both the pork cutout and physical hogs. Pork packer margins ticked slightly higher as gains in the pork market outpaced those in the hog market while higher lean hog futures and a slight dip in fe...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Cattle Hit New Records while Wheat Hits New Lows; Planting in Focus

The CBOT was mostly lower to start the week with expectations of favorable planting progress in this afternoon’s Crop Progress report creating much of the pressure. Wheat was the big loser for the day with favorable weather in the major growing regions prompting a strong wave of selling f...

Quick Hits

Canadian Elections: Canada is going to the polls today. Earlier in the year, the Liberal Party was out of favor in Canada, but Trump’s talk of the 51st State has changed the dynamics of the election. Canada has six time zones, so the final results will be in late tonight.  SCP Safegu...

Hard Hit with Benefits; American Consumerism; AI’s Trump Trade Solution

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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.

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