Regional News The weather across Europe remains broadly favorable for winter crop development this next week, except for continued heavy rains across Western France and Spain. The 8-14-day forecast returns to more normal rainfall and temperatures, however. The weather remains similarly favorable for the Black Sea, though modest dryness persists. Iran secured 380,000 MT of wheat from Russia and Germany last week. Russia, once again, is doubting the efficiency of the free market and is looking for ways to curb grain exports. Agricultural Minister Patrushev told a newspaper last week that the country is looking to find a mechanism that would restrict grain exports to only the estimated export surplus, under “certain condit...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.
Key Takeaways: Dry bulk markets remain mixed with Capesize vessels seeing continued pressure from weaker demand while fixtures and rate strength gradually increases towards the smaller vessel classes. Tanker markets are pulling back from their recent highs as tonnage moves out of the Mid...
Inflation is back in the driver’s seat, and agriculture is getting pulled in two directions. A stronger dollar is pressuring grains despite fresh Chinese buying, while renewed Middle East attacks lift crude oil. Higher energy prices can support commodities, but they also raise expenses an...