The Senate is considering a $13.45 billion disaster relief bill for states impacted by natural disasters in 2017 and 2018 as well as the recent flooding in the Midwest and South. Much of the aid could be doled out to states to use in a block grant-style relief program, and some of the money for agricultural producers would be distributed in the form of current payment programs. The bill also provides relief for wildfire and hurricane damage in other regions of the country. Passage of the bill is currently delayed over the amount of aid targeted for Puerto Rico’s recovery from the 2017 hurricane damage there; the proposed legislation has $600 million in supplemental disaster nutrition assistance. The administration wants to reduce tha...
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.