The real flaw in the Clean Air Act's Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is mandating particular volumes of fuel use each year rather than specifying a share of the total fuel market. RFS Clouds Under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in the Clean Air Act, U.S. EPA gains substantially more flexibility to set future biofuel use levels if it has waived at least 20 percent of the statutory use level for two years in a row by 2016. Congress wrote this "off ramp" out of recognition that technology and the market might not be able to achieve the lofty political goals it originally set. Not coincidentally, the EPA has proposed cutting the RFS by 20.5 percent in 2015 and 21.8 percent in 2016. The ethanol industry sees this as both intentional and...
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.