The Biden Administration has cranked up its outreach to politically red rural America with USTR Katherine Tai now following President Biden’s focus on agriculture. Instead of picking up rural Republican votes in 2024, the goal is said to be at least reducing voter turnout in these areas. As part of the effort, USDA announced a new “Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative” intended to help producers of these crops. Mostly, it has been Florida tomato growers saying they face unfair competition from Mexico. However, different specialty crops are different pressures. California is the most diverse agricultural producer and the largest producer of specialty crops. According to Aaron Smith at UC-Davis, the state grows...
Key Takeaways: Demand and capacity decide where milk growth lands. Italian cheese is up 4.2 percent in 2026, and milk output is growing fastest in Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, where the new plants are located. Price spreads decide where the marginal milk goes. The Class IV premium over Clas...
Markets are caught between reasons to keep selling and reasons to take another look. Fund liquidation and renewed peace talks are pressuring grains, while fresh export business and some diesel relief offer encouragement. Corn recovered nearly 10 cents from its low to finish higher, while soybea...
Key Takeaways: President Trump announced $8 billion in additional agricultural assistance through the Harvest Fuel Relief Program, as USDA projects farm fuel and oil expenses will increase 28.8 percent in 2026. The package follows $12 billion in earlier relief, while government farm payments w...
From WPI Consulting
Infrastructure investment due diligence
On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.