Pickpocket Economics Some U.S. farm groups are clamoring for more subsidies from U.S. taxpayers, but they are likely to get a less favorable reaction from the new Congress. U.S. government farm payments will hit $17.2 billion this year, the highest level since 2006. American farmers are receiving $9.8 billion in compensation for the adverse effects of Mr. Trump’s trade war, plus there are plans for more subsidies to offset crop damage from hurricanes and wildfires. The trade war has not helped, but it has not been the cause of soft commodity markets. The nearby soybean contract is down 7 percent from a year earlier, but the nearby corn contract is 5 percent higher, and SRW is 14 percent more valuable. Livestock Challenges E...
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.