It is hard to handicap the progress of the farm bill. There is growing momentum to attach the bill to a "grand compromise" fiscal-cliff averting package. The four leaders of the Congressional Agriculture Committees are working together with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack as the Administration's representative on that strategy. Meanwhile, talks between the Administration via Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and congressional leaders have not proven successful. Lawmakers are frustrated with Geithner's contribution and characterize the progress on a grand compromise as nonexistent.On the table are the Treasury's tax and revenue plans; what is not are its spending plans. Of interest to farm groups regarding taxes is the Administration's proposal of...
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
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.