Later this month, USDA will release the quarterly Hogs and Pigs report sizing up the swine herd as of 1 September. There are a lot of reasons – none of them really good – to anticipate this report. Reports from Iowa State University show wean to finish operators have been in the red on a per head basis for 10 months, originating late last year. Sow slaughter has been up since about June and in the June quarterly Hogs and Pigs Report, farrowing intentions for the June through August quarter were down 3.6 percent, and farrowing intentions at that time for the quarter starting today through December were down 4.4 percent. Both make sense in context of sow liquidation. Will those reduced farrowing plans be followed through? Will tha...
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.
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...