Cold weather is hitting the upper Midwest and northern Plains which is going to have an impact on cattle weight gain and feed conversion. That’s worth noting given the dramatic counter seasonal average slaughter weights so far this year – a point we’ve commented on previously. Last week the average estimated slaughter weight went up again to 1,403 pounds. Typically, this is the time of year that weights start to trend down until they pick up again in May and June, but with a lot of long-fed cattle to move through, weights have stayed up. These heavy cattle create a little urgency to be moved through the value chain before they lose value, which will help cattle prices when front-supplies are tighter in Q2 when beef demand...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
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.