The president released his proposed FY 2020 budget today. It provides another salvo in the border wall fight along with about $27 billion in cuts for USDA and farm bill programs as well as a boost of nearly $3 billion via inspection user fees for USDA agencies. The House and Senate Budget Committees will hold hearings on the president’s plan this Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The president is required by law (Congressional Budget Act of 1974) to submit a budget proposal to Congress. However, it is only a request and an early step that typically initiates a very small skirmish in a long process culminating in actual appropriations bills. In the past 20 years, those bills have often been rolled into large omnibus packages or, mo...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
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.