Companies have been arguing that trade negotiators must catch up to the fact that global supply chains have become critically important. Lightening Metaphor Switzerland’s Federal Council earlier this month agreed to impose on manufacturers the EU’s Radio Equipment Directive, which requires a single universal type of charger for all (predominantly) mobile electronic devices. Policymakers say the mandate of a single charging device will reduce waste, costs and hassle for users. The single charging and data transfer device, the mini-USB, is already the most common connector on the market. However, the universal connector mandate is a metaphor for the problems associated with Europe’s regulation of agricultural technology.Without doubt, the d...
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
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.