A draft EU-backed study of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) oddly concludes that the pact will actually raise the cost of food and promote unhealthy consumption because the cost of sugar, tobacco and alcohol will go down. Politics at AB The U.S. is being criticized for disapproving the reappointment of Seung Wha Chang as a jurist on the WTO’s Appellate Board (AB). Supporters of Chang warn that the U.S. is threatening the independence and impartiality of adjudication as well as politicizing the body. Washington’s complaint against Chang is that rather than interpreting trade law, he has been “legislating from the bench” – creating precedent with no underlying statutory credence. In other words, it is Chang that is...
What You Need to Know Today: Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans continued to accelerate, with USDA reporting another 558 KMT sold to China and 236 KMT to unknown destinations. Combined with sales announced Wednesday and Thursday, the latest purchases bring the three-day total to approximately...
As fall begins, wild migratory birds are starting their seasonal migration. That has the industry and government officials worried about the potential spread, again, of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Some members of Congress have called for the United States to be prepared for a pote...
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.