There is still plenty of antipathy toward big agriculture on the part of self-styed watchdogs for consumers and producers of foodstuffs, but that sector now includes commercial farmers and ranchers who themselves have committed the sin of becoming big.We spent the last 10 days on our annual fly fishing pilgrimage to Montana. During that time, we also had the opportunity to talk with a number of farmers and ranchers. Weather and prices usually head the list of topics for producers' complaints, and 2015 has certainly provided those in Montana with plenty. Last winter and spring were very dry before that reversed in July and August. September has turned dry again, although it rained over much of southwestern Montana Monday and Tuesday as we le...
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
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.