It is not easy to change long-entrenched, negative public perceptions about futures markets and speculators, much less explain why they are important in everyday lives and the public’s well-being. Yet, that difficulty is not a reason to avoid making the attempt.Earlier this week, the Commodity Markets Council (CMC) held its annual State of the Industry meeting where a variety of speakers presented their views on the derivatives industry, its problems, opportunities and, ultimately, its future. The CMC morphed directly from the old National Grain Trade Council in recognition that the industry involves much more than grain. This year the CMC will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the combined organizations. Not surprisingly, the consensus vie...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Tomorrow is the Juneteenth federal holiday, and the USDA, along with the rest of the federal government and the CME, will be closed, so the monthly Cattle on Feed report was released a day early. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity on 1 June amounted...
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.