The Organic and Non-GMO Forum this week highlighted the conundrum hitting U.S. farmers as consumers change their preferences. However, a new farm bill initiative may attempt to help address some of the issues. Transitional Crops The Organic and Non-GMO Forum this week highlighted the conundrum hitting U.S. farmers as consumers change their preferences. Imports of organic corn will hit 20 million bushels in 2017, and those of organic soybeans are already twice that level. Farmers have to produce their crops organically for three years before they can officially market them with that attribute. This means three years of yield losses without the higher pricing of organic. Further complicating the situation are low prices for conventionally-g...
What You Need to Know Today: Grain futures fell hard overnight after the USDA’s Crop Conditions report showed better-than-expected ratings for corn and soybeans, despite difficult weather last week. The Conditions report was even more bearish in light of meaningfully beneficial rains acr...
Key Takeaways: New Mexico’s Clean Transportation Fuel Program expands demand for low-carbon fuels and creates another market for renewable feedstocks, adding incremental pressure to already limited supplies of lower-carbon inputs. Growing competition for waste-based feedstocks such as an...
As WPI reported on 17 July, the recently passed budget reconciliation bill in the House Budget Committee includes $12 billion in emergency farm assistance. This would be the seventh of the past nine years with ad hoc farm payments (FY2018, FY2019, FY2020, FY2022, FY2023, FY2024, and potentially...
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.