U.S. spring planting conditions were sub-optimal, and the guessing involved an expected shift toward farmers uniquely sowing more soybeans than corn. That did not happen, though it was close. There has been a presumption of higher prevented planting acres all season, and that guess has been true, though not as shown by history. Using historical averages to estimate prevented planting acres has been frustrated by more frequent changes in insured coverage in recent years. USDA’s Risk Management Agency has tweaked everything from planting history to plant by dates and even notification requirements. In the agency’s defense, the goal is to avoid moral hazard. Insurance is to cover unexpected losses, not to drive planting decisions...
From WPI Consulting
Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming
WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.