Regional News Europe is facing a favorable weather forecast for crop development and field work over the next two weeks. Temperatures will be near normal or slightly higher across western and eastern Europe, as well as Ukraine and southern Russia. Precipitation this week will be below normal, which will allow currently wet soils to dry and permit a faster fieldwork/planting pace. Rains return to western and parts of central/eastern Europe next week, however, which may delay some planting progress. Fortunately, cold weather will be limited in the next two weeks, minimizing further frost risks for Black Sea countries. Russia’s new €50/MT wheat export duty becomes effective today (1 March) and as a reminder to clients,...
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.