The increased number of cases of the Omicron variant of COVID has been weighing somewhat on the cattle markets this past week. There is general chatter about higher levels of absenteeism due to Omicron, which has slowed down plant through-put. Slaughter today was down about 4,000 head compared to last week. Estimated week-to-date cattle slaughter is 450,000 head, compared to 475,000 head last week and 467,000 head last year for the same period. Hog slaughter so far this week is 1.853 million head compared to 1.885 million head last week and 1.96 million head last year. The supply of hogs compared to processing capacity is not as tight as it is for cattle, however. Negotiated cash cattle prices were $138.59 today, down from $14...
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
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.