World Perspectives

Wheat from the Chaff; Europe Gets Squeezed

Wheat from the Chaff An agricultural meeting in Arkansas last week drew 400 to 500 farmers, a much larger group than expected at harvest time. They vented their angst over low commodity prices, high input costs, and consequently low profitability. One estimate from bankers is that farm bankruptcies could reach 25 to 40 percent. There were the usual boogeymen, the input suppliers and origination companies that are called monopolies. One farm leader is quoted saying, “Seed, chemicals or fertilizer, it’s all in the hands of a few companies that are the only game in town. You want to fix farming? Start a federal investigation on those big companies.” Agribusiness middlemen are typically the target of criticism, and from both s...

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Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.45/bushel, down $0.0275 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.35/bushel, down $0.035 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.28/bushel, down $0.0975 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $314.6/short ton, down $4.1...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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