Russia is positioning to invade Ukraine if it wants, and China is seeking to put a military base on the Atlantic in Equatorial Guinea. Then there is China’s threats to Taiwan and Iran’s potential abandonment of the nuclear agreement. One of the above could limit grain exports out of the Black Sea Region, two others could disrupt grain exports out of the U.S. and Europe. Trade embargoes and other forms of economic coercion are on the rise. A back up plan is needed. Already a long list of sanctions is being developed should Russia move on Ukraine. Without a European army to deter Russia, Latvia has asked for permanent basing of U.S. troops in its country. Presumably, western sanctions associated with military moves by Russi...
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.